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 until then.
The difference in size
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″ Opetai. If this fight does happen, Opetaia will not enjoy his normal size advantage, which he has relied on at cruiserweight.
Moreover, his one-armed fighting style could lead to Usyk schooling and embarrassing him. Jai uses a hybrid Bivolo style that he apparently learned from watching the former WBA light heavyweight champion. Usyk has seen that style often over the years on the amateur circuit in Ukraine and will easily master it.
If Usyk loses his titles Daniel Dubois in the rematch, that will put Opetaia in a position where he will have to decide whether to go for the belts against the power puncher. It would be bad on Opetaia's part to fight Usyka in any case.
That would make him look cowardly. Jai will be dwarfed against Dubois if that fight ever happens. Even if Opetaia gets bigger, he'll be small next to Dubois inside the ring. I don't see a favorable outcome for the Australian. He is NOT another Evander Holyfield. He has no such talent.
Opetaia's promoter, Eddie Hearn, will need to arrange the unification fights he needs to become the cruiserweight champion this year against WBC champion Badou Jack and WBA and WBO belt holder Gilbert 'Zurdo' Ramirez in order to achieve his goal 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 happy that it turned out that way. The fans got what they wanted. It was good to come home and have that kind of energy,” said Jai Opetaia talkSport Boxingdiscussing his recent victory over David Nyika on January 8 in Australia.
“No, I'm ready again. I'm chasing those unification fights,” Opetaia said, reacting to being told his face looked unmarked less than a week after his four-round bout with heavy-hitter Nyika.
“I got a little complacent. After the first round, I had a picture in my head of one of those Hagler-Hearns type fights,” Opetaia said of landing some big shots from the 6'6″ Nyiko in the contest. “It was good to be a part of it. I am happy that I gave a good performance 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 Opetai #TheRingAwards pic.twitter.com/9zNJoeq1Ax
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 11, 2025