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Jay Opetaia reiterated on Saturday that he plans to quickly become the undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2025 and then move up to heavyweight to challenge Alexander Usyk for his belts if he still holds them by then.
Size difference
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″ Opetaja. If this fight is made, Opetaia will not enjoy his normal size advantage, which he relies on in the cruiserweight division.
Moreover, his one-handed fighting style could lead to Usyk schooling and embarrassing him. Jay uses a Buffalo-esque hybrid 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 master it.
If Usyk loses the title from Daniel Dubois in the rematch, it will put Opetai in a position where he will have to decide whether to fight for the belts against a formidable power puncher. It would be bad on Opetaja’s part to fight against Usik.
That would make him look cowardly. Jai will be small against Dubo if that fight ever happens. Even if Opetaia grows, he’ll be tiny next to Dubo 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 to have a chance to achieve his goal this year .
IBF heavyweight champion Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) knocked out challenger David Niik (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 it turned out that way. The fans got what they wanted. It was good to come home and have that kind of energy,” Jay Opetaia told talkSport Boxingtalking about his recent victory over David Niek on January 8 in Australia.
“No, I’m good to go 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 war with the hard-hitting Najik.
“I got a little complacent. After the first round, I had this image in my head of one of those Hagler-Hearns type fights,” Opetaia said of taking some big shots from the 6’6″ Niik in the contest. “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,” Opetaja said of wanting to become undisputed at cruiserweight and then move up to heavyweight to challenge Alexander Usyk for his world titles.
Oleksandar Usyk with Jai Opetaj #TheRingAwards pic.twitter.com/9zNjoek1Ak
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 11, 2025
