Jai Opetaia, the Reigning IBF Cruiserweight Champion, Sets Sights on Unification Bouts
Jai Opetaia, the newly crowned two-time IBF cruiserweight champion, has made it clear that his primary focus is on securing unification fights rather than pursuing any other alternatives. The Australian boxer recently regained the IBF title by defeating Mairis Briedis in a rematch last month, a feat he accomplished after initially winning the belt in July 2022 but being controversially stripped when negotiations for a rematch stalled.
Despite his impressive victory, Opetaia remained modest in his assessment, stating, “The belt … it is what it is. To be honest, after I won the fight, it wasn’t even like I won a world title. It was more just winning another fight. The belt was just a bonus.” This humble attitude reflects Opetaia’s determination to continue improving and facing the top contenders in the cruiserweight division.
Opetaia’s recent battle against Briedis was a grueling one, with the champion acknowledging that he had much to learn from the experience. “I’m not really happy with my performance, but it’s like I’ve watched it back, I’ve seen a couple of things I want to work on, and I’m happy for that,” he explained. “I’m happy I learned the lesson with a ‘W.’ A lot of people, it takes a loss for them to realize what they need to do and what they need to fix, so it’s a big learning curve for us.“
Moving forward, Opetaia has his sights set on unification fights, with the WBO champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez being on his radar. “We definitely want that unification fight. It doesn’t matter what belt, we just want another belt,” he said. Opetaia’s determination to face the best in his division is evident, and he is ready to take on any challenge that comes his way, even hinting at a potential appearance on the August 3rd card in Los Angeles if the opportunity arises.
“We definitely want that unification fight. It doesn’t matter what belt, we just want another belt.”
Jai Opetaia’s journey as the IBF cruiserweight champion has been marked by his unwavering focus on facing the toughest opponents and unifying the division’s titles. With his recent victory over Briedis and his sights set on the biggest fights, the boxing world can expect to see Opetaia continue to make his mark in the cruiserweight landscape.
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