Jai Opetaia reiterated on Saturday that he plans to quickly become the undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2025 and then move up to heavyweight to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for his belts if he still holds them by then.
Size varies
Usyk and Jai met during the Ring Awards on Saturday. When they stood next to each other, Usyk looked much bigger than the 6’2″ Opetaia. If this fight is made, Opetaia will not have his normal size advantage, which he has come to rely on at cruiserweight.
Additionally, his one-armed fighting style could lead to him being schooled and embarrassed by Usyk. Jai uses a hybrid Bivol-esque style that he clearly learned from watching the former WBA light heavyweight champion. Usyk has seen that style often during his years on the amateur circuit in Ukraine and will easily overcome it.
If Usyk loses his titles to Daniel Dubois in a rematch, this will put Opetaia in a position where he will have to decide whether to go after the belts against the formidable power puncher. It would be a bad look on Opetaia’s part to fight Usyk anyway.
It would make him look foolish. Jai is going to be minuscule against Dubois if that fight ever happens. Even if Opetaia is big, he’s going to be small next to Dubois in the ring. I don’t see a favorable outcome for the Australian. He is NOT another Evander Holyfield. He doesn’t have that kind of talent.
Opetaia’s promoter Eddie Hearn will need to put together the unification fights he needs to become cruiserweight champion this year against WBC champion Badou Jack and WBA and WBO belt holder Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez to have a chance at his goal to achieve this year. .
IBF cruiserweight champion Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) knocked out challenger David Nyika (10-1, 9 KOs) in the fourth round on January 8 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, in Queensland, Australia.
Cruiserweight First
“I’m glad it turned out that way. The fans got what they wanted. It was good to be back home, and have that type of energy,” Jai Opetaia told talkSport Boxingdiscussing his recent victory over David Nyika on January 8 in Australia.
“No, I’m good to go again. I’m chasing those unification fights,” says Opetaia, reacting to the fact that his face looks unmarked less than a week after his four-round war with heavy puncher Nyika.
“I got a little complacent. After the first round I had this picture in my head of one of those Hagler-Hearns type fights,” Opetaia said of being hit with some big shots from the 6’6″ Nyika in the bout. “It was good to be a part of it. I’m just happy to put on a good show and a good fight.
“Definitely, man. That’s the goal,” Opetaia said of wanting to become undisputed at cruiserweight and then move up to heavyweight to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for his world titles.
Oleksandr Usyk with Jai Opetaia #TheRingAwards pic.twitter.com/9zNJoeq1Ax
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 11, 2025
