Eddie Hearn Fancies a Unification Between Zurdo and Opetaia
Matchroom Boxing’s Chairman Eddie Hearn likes the idea of making a unification featuring WBA cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (46-1, 30KO) and Ring Magazine champion Jai Opetaia (24-0, 19KO).
The cruiserweight division is becoming one of those divisions that boxing fans will want to keep their eyes on. With some good fights possibly on the horizon, unification is the quickest way to gain global attention.
Opetaia is locked into a rematch with two-time champion Mairis Briedis. In July 2022, he defeated the Latvian for the IBF title but suffered a broken jaw en route to victory. The two warriors will battle again with the vacant title on April 18.
A UNIFICATION COULD BE ON THE HORIZON
Providing the Aussie is victorious, Hearn told FightHype of a potential unification that is on his radar.
“I think a unification that would be great to make is Zurdo against Opetaia. Obviously, with its DAZN platform, you know, maybe a big fight in Saudi (Arabia).”
Eddie Hearn
On March 30, Ramirez dominated Arsen Goulamirian en route to a unanimous decision to become a two-division world champion. After winning the WBA title, Zurdo expressed wanting to be on the hunt for undisputed.
With both fighters on the same network, the fight should be easy to make. However, in boxing, things do not always go according to plan, as issues often seem to arise when negotiating begins.
Ramirez has turned things around after his first career defeat against WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in 2022. Opetaia is heading into the rematch with a good head of steam, coming off back-to-back knockout victories over two undefeated fighters.
It will be interesting to see if Golden Boy Promotions’ Oscar De La Hoya and Hearn come together to make such a high-profile fight.
