Eddie Hearn says IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia may challenge Oleksandr Usyk for his heavyweight world titles in “12 to 18 months” with the help of “the money of” Turki Al-Shiekh.
Hearn revealed that the plan is to boost Opetaia’s “credibility” by first having him become the undisputed cruiserweight champion by capturing the WBA, WBC and WBO belts from Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Badou Jack. Once Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) does that, he will move up to heavyweight to challenge Usyk for his belts if he is not retired or beaten by someone before then.
Skip the line?
There’s something disturbing about Opetaia getting a title shot in his first fight at heavyweight without at least fighting a title eliminator or one of the top contenders waiting to compete for a world title. When a fighter gets a straight title shot without even competing in the division, boxing seems less like a real sport and more about just popularity and money.
As good as Opetaia looked Wednesday night when he knocked out David Nyika (10-1, 9 KOs) in the fourth round at the Gold Coast Convention Center, Broadbeach, in Queensland, Australia, it’s hard to imagine him beating heavyweight contenders as Martin Bakole defeats. .
18-month plan
“Jai is going to collect all the belts at cruiserweight to go undisputed, and then we want to push him into a fight against Oleksandr Usyk in the heavyweight division to try to go undisputed as well,” said Eddie Hearn. DAZNtalk about Jai Opetaia having to collect all the titles at cruiserweight and then move up to heavyweight to do the same up there.
“I believe he is the only person in cruiserweight or heavyweight who can really give Oleksandr Usyk a real, real fight, but to do that we have to pick up every belt in the cruiserweight first to give him the credibility and the money of Sy Excellency to allow Oleksandr Usyk to enter the ring.
“Trust me, in 12 to 18 months, Jai Opetaia vs. Oleksandr Usyk is a classic classic,” Hearn said.
Opetaia could be undone when he comes in against WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs). It’s a big step up to the likes of Nyika and a faded Mairis Briedis. He could lose to Zurdo, which would ruin Hearn’s vision of him moving up to challenge Usyk.
In Usyk’s case. He could retire soon or be beaten by IBF champion Daniel Dubois. Usyk will not wait for Opetaia to take down all the belts at cruiserweight before fighting again. He will remain active, and one of the obvious fights that could happen next is a rematch with Dubois.
Oleksandr was lucky not to get knocked out in their fight on August 26, 2023. He was dropped by what appeared to be a legitimate body shot, but the referee ruled that it was a low blow. Replays showed it was on the tape line. Dubois will focus on Usyk’s body in a rematch, knowing he is weak there.
