Opetaia Frustrated as Rivals Avoid Unification Bout

AUSTRALIA : Despite holding both the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight world titles, Australia’s Jai Opetaia is facing a frustrating deadlock in securing the one fight the boxing world wants to see: a unification bout.

Opetaia, who has compiled a professional record of 28-0 with 22 knockouts, is struggling to entice the holders of the WBA and WBO belts, notably Gilberto Ramirez, to step into the ring.

“It’s been a bit hard to try to get these other champions to take these fights, which I’m unsure why,” Opetaia admitted respectfully. “There’s a lot of excuses floating around.”

According to former world champion Danny Green, the reason for the avoidance is simple: Opetaia is too dangerous.

“He’s a tiger, a terror, it’s why it’s difficult for him to get the big unification bouts he thoroughly deserves,” Green stated. “He’s on a tear, and I just think he’s by far the best cruiserweight in the world.”

Opetaia’s fearsome reputation was solidified by his incredible victory over Mairis Briedis in 2022, where he famously fought through an excruciating 12 rounds to win the title despite suffering a broken jaw in the second round. His tendency to finish fights early—or leave opponents with serious injuries, as he did to Claudio Sqeuo in June—has opponents wary.

The champion remains motivated by the ultimate prize: “I respect every fighter that steps in the ring… but isn’t that what we want? Don’t we want to prove we’re the best? Don’t we want to become undisputed and be the best in the world in our division? And that’s what I’m chasing.”

For now, Opetaia must focus on his mandated title defense this Saturday against the undefeated German fighter Huseyin Cinkara, but the goal remains the same: proving he is the undisputed king of the cruiserweight division.