Jai Opetaia vs. Huseyin Cinkara | Stan - December 6, 2025

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jai Opetaia-Huseyin Cinkara to be shown by UFC Fight Pass

The IBF cruiserweight title fight between Jai Opetaia and his mandatory challenger Huseyin Cinkara will be shown outside of Australia on UFC Fight Pass, potentially ending the champion’s association with DAZN.

Opetaia, 30 years old and of Australia, on Saturday makes the third defence of his title of 2025 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre and, for the first time, on the pay-per-view platform of the influential Australian broadcaster Stan.

His fights had been on DAZN, partly as a consequence of his being co-promoted by Matchroom, but his long-term promoters Tasman Fighters have followed securing their agreement with Stan by agreeing terms for another with UFC Fight Pass, ensuring that his date with Germany’s 40-year-old Cinkara can be watched beyond his home country.

“I only signed the contract about two hours ago,” Tasman’s Mick Francis told BS. “We’ll officially announce it at the presser [on Thursday].

“We’re doing some pretty hard work down here. I’ve worked my arse off. Yeah, we sell tickets and whatever we do, but [funding Tasman has] come out of my bank account. It’s not like I’ve got Saudi [Arabia] supporting me, or a multimillionaire father or things like that. It’s been real money out of my real pocket.”

That Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, the WBA and WBO champion widely recognised as, behind Opetaia, the world’s second finest cruiserweight fights on DAZN will potentially complicate the hopes Francis and Opetaia have of agreeing terms to fight him in 2026. Ramirez, regardless, is expected to prioritise fighting David Benavidez instead.

DAZN on Saturday are broadcasting Matchroom’s promotion from Monte Carlo, headlined by the all-British EBU junior-featherweight title fight between Shabaz Masoud and Peter McGrail.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Heavy-handed Teremoana Teremoana training to be 'cool, calm and composed'

Teremoana Teremoana has promised a “patient” performance for the first time in his promising career.

The Paris 2024 Olympian has emerged as not only one of the great hopes of Australian boxing, but of the heavyweight division, and not only because of the abilities he demonstrated when winning a bronze medal, but because he has stopped all eight of his professional opponents inside two rounds.

Six of those opponents were stopped inside the first, but aged 27 and having recognised he has already made a significant statement, Teremoana is determined to focus on honing his craft. If he has the raw athleticism required to realise his potential he will one day need to demonstrate the stamina and tactical awareness to fight for 12 rounds, and on Saturday, against Mexico’s German Garcia Montes on the undercard of Jai Opetaia-Huseyin Cinkara at the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre, he has promised that that progress will start to show.

His compatriot Justis Huni was nearing a world heavyweight title fight until he lost to the recently crowned WBO champion Fabio Wardley, but it is Teremoana, and not the more experienced Huni, who is considered the superior talent.

To that end Teremoana has already fought in Monte Carlo and the US as a professional, and on Saturday fights for the fourth time in 2025. He has also been earmarked for another fight date early in 2026, and therefore knows what, against the 37-year-old Montes, is at stake.

“I’ve got a tough Mexican coming to try and take me out so I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he told BS. “I’m just excited to show everyone what I’ve learned over this past year.

“In the past 12 months we’ve had a total of four fights – this one will be the fifth. Obviously you’ve got to do your time – you’ve got to get the pro style, me coming from the amateurs, so we’ve just been working away, doing the work in the gym, trying to slow the pace down, set up the shots. I’m excited to show, come this Saturday – I’ve been working on a few things; getting more patient – because people seem to like me fighting because I bring the fight. I get a bit excited and want to take them out. Everyone will see a new Teremoana – cool, calm and composed for a little bit, and then we’ll see how we go.

“I’m going out there with a game plan to fight behind the jab, do what you’re supposed to do, set the shots up – that type of thing. But if I land a shot and I see him weak, I’m definitely going to go for the kill. I’m a fighter. That’s what fighters do. I’m not there to go to a decision. I want to take everyone out – but I’m not there to do that. I’m not trying to take them out – it just happens in the process.

“If you watch a few of my early fights, especially against James Singh [in March], I kind of threw everything out the door when I stepped in the ring. I believe I’m a high-calibre fighter – everyone in the world, I believe I’m better than them. Sometimes I can use my physical prowess – my size – to just overwhelm people, and I really believe I could do the same thing December 6. I really believe I could go out there and overwhelm him if I wanted to, but I’d rather set the shot up and try and get a nice, clean knockout, rather than making it messy.

“He’s one of the most experienced I’ve fought so far. Judging by the record [9-6], he should be my toughest fight. From what I’ve seen he doesn’t have anything too special, but he does know how to handle himself in close and mid-range. So do I. He’s going to have to work to get past my reach to even get to mid and close range – that’ll be a challenge for him. I believe my attributes are stronger than him – I’m stronger, I’m faster, I’m fitter. I’ve got better footwork, and my punches hurt. From what I’ve seen, I’m not worried about anything. He’s a heavyweight – heavyweights do punch hard. Every time I step in the ring I give respect to the opponent, because they could just land one punch and it could be a wild punch, but if it lands you could get knocked out, so you’ve gotta give respect to everyone in that regard.

“I believe my skills are superior. I believe I’m faster, and I believe I’m stronger, so he’s got more of the challenge on the day. I’m just there to prove it. I believe I’m in the best in the world – we’ve just got to go one step at a time and get through whoever they put in front of me really. We’re 8-0, so we’ve got to keep going, keep rising, and I’ll gain more respect as time goes on.

“The funny thing is everyone keeps asking me is it gonna go one round; two rounds? I’m just going out there – we’ll stick to the game plan, but I do expect that this guy will feel my power. I’ve been working hard in the gym. I’m a lot stronger and a lot faster than I was in my previous fights, and if people have seen anything in my last fights, I’m stronger than – every time I get in the ring I’m a whole new beast. I’m looking forward to seeing what I leave out there on Saturday.”

Teremoana’s past fight in Monte Carlo owed to his then being co-promoted by Matchroom. Matchroom on Saturday are again staging a promotion there, one headlined by the EBU junior-featherweight title fight between the Britons Shabaz Masoud and Peter McGrail and, asked if he had been in contention to instead return there, the heavyweight responded: “It was in discussions, but it just worked out better for us to be fighting in Australia, because I’m a local. I’m very happy to be fighting on this card – world-title with Opetaia and Cinkara – they have good eyes on this and I’m very honoured to be able to be on the undercard and supporting him.

“I’m just out there to do my job. We all have our own careers. I’m just there to let everyone know again, I’m someone you’ve got to watch out for, and then we’ll go from there.

“I live in Brisbane. Gold Coast’s just down the road. It’s a lot easier to just go there than jump on a plane and fly over to [Monte Carlo]. It works a little bit better with logistics and stuff like that. Everyone’s gonna be watching anyway – it’s a worldwide event being broadcast on Stan, so I’m not too worried about where I’m fighting, as long as I keep on fighting and staying active, that’s my priority. That’s my goal.

“Next year we’re looking to have a really busy year. I’ve been told my first fight will probably be early in the year – March; they haven’t given me a date – so I’m just getting ready for that. I’ve been staying in the gym the past year, so after this I’m going to get back in the gym; stay ready. I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

press conference quotes

Jai Opetaia
“It’s just another day in the office for us,” said Opetaia. “I’m prepared for 12 rounds of war, man. I keep saying it, but we’ve been in the trenches. We’ve ticked every box. Let’s do it.”

“It’s been challenging to get the right fights. I’m looking for those progress fights, but we’re here now. He does bring a lot of challenges. You don’t become number one mandatory on accident. He’s the first one to step up. I’m sure they offered him cash to step aside so we could get a different fight, but he believes he can win. He’s got nothing to lose, he’s coming to win. It makes him dangerous, but we are ready for the danger. We prepare in those deep waters all day. Whatever he brings, we got an answer to. I’m curious to see how he comes out. How hungry is he? How tough is he? Let’s find out on Saturday.”

Hüseyin Cinkara
“[I’ve] worked very hard for this fight,” said Cinkara through an interpreter. “[We’ve] covered all bases. [We’re] ready to go. There’s nothing believe [we’ve] forgotten. [I’m] ready to fight. [I’m] bringing the game.”

“First of all, just want to explain that that Jai is the best champion out there in the cruiserweight division. have total respect, not just for his fighting ability, but also his demeanor and his character. He’s a very nice man, you can see that. But I’ve come here prepared and with all my belief, not just in myself but because [of] the belief the Turks have in me as well. I’m going to bring the fight come Saturday night.”

[Sendo Takeshi]

This is like the fourth fight in a row where I'm just thinking, "let’s get this over with so he can finally face real competition."
What a waste of a career.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Date: Saturday December 6, 2025
Location: Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre - QLD, Australia
TV/Stream: STAN PPV | Price: $50 aud
TV/Stream: DAZN Global | Price: sub



Start Times
STAN PPV & UFC FightPass: 5:30 pm local | 1:30 am PT | 6:30 am GMT (Main Card)

Promoted by: Matchroom Boxing

Fight Card

IBF & Ring Magazine Cruiserweight Championship
Jai Opetaia vs. Huseyin Cinkara

WBC Australasian Super Middleweight Championship
Max McIntyre vs. Jed Morris

10 Round Super Lightweight Contest
Jake Wyllie vs. Paul Fleming

6 Round Heavyweight Contest
Teremoana Teremoana vs. German Garcia Montes

IBF Pan Pacific Super Welterweight Championship
Benny Mahoney vs. Winston Hill

​WBC Australasian Bantamweight Championship
Jason Moloney vs. Herlan Gomez

10 Round Super Middleweight Contest
Jack Gregory vs. Hayden Emmerson

8 Round Lightweight Contest
Taylah Gentzen vs. Jessica Adams

4 Round Light heavyweight Contest
Austin Aokuso vs. Emmanuel Danso

[Sendo Takeshi]

Jai knocked him out cold in the 8th, even though his opponent actually put up a fight up to this point.

[Ruthless-RKO]

And still…

Getting a bit boring now..

[Sendo Takeshi]

And still…

Getting a bit boring now..

Honestly. I like Jai, but you can't tell me he can't find someone in the Top 10 to fight him for 4 fights straight.

If Zurdo doesn't wanna fight, target the winner of Badou vs Norair. Or anyone who isn't a 19-1 underdog..

[Ruthless-RKO]

[samwbr]

He is some fighter.

[TheLeprechaun]

He got rocked to his boots vs a 40 year old limited opponent. He looked predictable, jab, left, jab, left to the body, switch to southpaw and throw a left hook. Copious amounts of feinting. Sorry but I just don't get the hype. Awful timing from him tonight. He was way out of range with his clubbing shots a lot of the time. Kept going back to the exact same moves e.g the southpaw switch and left hand, which I think the janitor in the upper deck could see coming.

[JamesPhilips]

He got rocked to his boots vs a 40 year old limited opponent. He looked predictable, jab, left, jab, left to the body, switch to southpaw and throw a left hook. Copious amounts of feinting. Sorry but I just don't get the hype. Awful timing from him tonight. He was way out of range with his clubbing shots a lot of the time. Kept going back to the exact same moves e.g the southpaw switch and left hand, which I think the janitor in the upper deck could see coming.

I think he underperformed. He was not happy at his own display. Cinkara was a surprise though.

[handsofstone]

Is there anyone in boxing who gets an easier ride than Opetaia? Time after time he fights dogshit opposition , the Breidis wins don't hold much weight for me these days, not anymore anyhow

[giacomino]

Is there anyone in boxing who gets an easier ride than Opetaia? Time after time he fights dogshit opposition , the Breidis wins don't hold much weight for me these days, not anymore anyhow

Lara is comparable or worse among paper belt-holders, but he’s up there. Both fight crap opponents in extremely weak divisions

[gregregegg]

Fought the best guy twice in the last 3 years. Had a mandatory pull out who he replaced with an Olympic medalist prospect. And had a mandatory. It’s funny because he would cop less shot if he had just fought briadis twice and his mandatory and had poor activity.

[giacomino]

Fought the best guy twice in the last 3 years. Had a mandatory pull out who he replaced with an Olympic medalist prospect. And had a mandatory. It’s funny because he would cop less shot if he had just fought briadis twice and his mandatory and had poor activity.

I don’t blame him as much as his management. I love that he’s busy but he’s been fed nobody besides Breidas. He’s the best in his division but Uysk, Bivol, Monster, Rodriguez, et al would all be getting shit if all they fought was the level of competition his management has lined up for Jai

[gregregegg]

Fought the best guy twice in the last 3 years. Had a mandatory pull out who he replaced with an Olympic medalist prospect. And had a mandatory. It’s funny because he would cop less shot if he had just fought briadis twice and his mandatory and had poor activity.

I don’t blame him as much as his management. I love that he’s busy but he’s been fed nobody besides Breidas. He’s the best in his division but Uysk, Bivol, Monster, Rodriguez, et al would all be getting shit if all they fought was the level of competition his management has lined up for Jai

I don’t blame Jai, I don’t even blame his management. I blame ibf… this year he has fought a mando pull out late replacement and two mandos no one gives a shit about…

If ibf had good mandatory challengers there would be no issue.

Jai when he can’t get the unification is ticking mandos so when his chance comes he can take the mando… nothing wrong with that.

[amwsnw]

Jai has made it clear time after time he just wants the belts, no matter who holds them. He was highly critical of his own performance tonight and rightly so. Not many fighters can have an off night and still close it out that way. Hopefully a bigger name is on the horizon. And the Breidis fights stand up at any time, and should hold weight - Breidis was a beast and the bouts were wars.

[coneye]

Been a big Jai fan for a while ,but to behonrest i have finaly relized i m watching him through rose colored glasses maimly because has a kid i watched him and said future champ... but lazt night it took 8 rnds to put a punchbag away . CINKARA did.nt come to win he came to survive and he still hurt zjai with a single punch what alarmed me was Jai failing to close him down and work short he was working long all the time and falling short wi t h his punches he fights someone good he will not get away with it. Plus these easy fights are doing no good there not interesting . the big money is not in Aust to draw the big names . Are thenothers really ducking him or is it jai wants them at hme and Tasman want to pay peanuts Jai has been living off the Bredis win for a while now its time to change, problem is where does he go heavyweight NAAW hes too small... challengr Bivol , or the mexican doubt yhe moneu is in Aust for that plus from his last couple fights he gets well beat . JAI really meeds to be matched well the next couple

[gregregegg]

The problem is cruiser is such a weak division there are fornicate all fights that the public would accept.

Jai needs to just go to heavyweight if he can’t get a unification (or CBS or Bert) next.

Jai copped a lot of shit about the Nikita fight even though it was a late replacement… but honestly I rate that opponent as well as anyone outside of a unification or cbs.

When there are fornicate all people to fight, and your getting slightly ducked it dosent give you many options.

[gregregegg]

The problem is cruiser is such a weak division there are fornicate all fights that the public would accept.

Jai needs to just go to heavyweight if he can’t get a unification (or CBS or Bert) next.

Jai copped a lot of shit about the Nikita fight even though it was a late replacement… but honestly I rate that opponent as well as anyone outside of a unification or cbs. (In fact I would have Nikita a strong favorite vs Badu jack who is one of the unification options)

When there are fornicate all people to fight, and your getting slightly ducked it dosent give you many options.

[Sendo Takeshi]

The problem is cruiser is such a weak division there are fornicate all fights that the public would accept.

Jai needs to just go to heavyweight if he can’t get a unification (or CBS or Bert) next.

Jai copped a lot of shit about the Nikita fight even though it was a late replacement… but honestly I rate that opponent as well as anyone outside of a unification or cbs.

When there are fornicate all people to fight, and your getting slightly ducked it dosent give you many options.

That may be true on one hand, but even then his opposition is weak considering everything. He’s not even fighting guys in the top 10. Nobody can tell me he can’t get at least one of those guys to fight for the title.

[gregregegg]

The problem is cruiser is such a weak division there are fornicate all fights that the public would accept.

Jai needs to just go to heavyweight if he can’t get a unification (or CBS or Bert) next.

Jai copped a lot of shit about the Nikita fight even though it was a late replacement… but honestly I rate that opponent as well as anyone outside of a unification or cbs.

When there are fornicate all people to fight, and your getting slightly ducked it dosent give you many options.

That may be true on one hand, but even then his opposition is weak considering everything. He’s not even fighting guys in the top 10. Nobody can tell me he can’t get at least one of those guys to fight for the title.

Well his last 3 fights have basically been mandatory’s. (Nikita was late replacement and I would argue he is top 10… cause the division is crap.)

I want him to fight the top 3 or 4 who are actualy semi decent. If he isn’t fighting them then ticking mandos is probably the best move (although I’d rather him dip his toe into heavyweight if the top 3 or 4 won’t fight)

[handsofstone]

Some KO that, absolutely wiped Cinkara out with that left hand, apart from getting rocked by a couple of rights in the 2nd it was all Opetaia, he methodically walked Cinkara back and broke him down, Cinkara never really offered much, Opetaia kept it simple and when the time come in the 8th left Cinkara unconscious

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jai said he has facial injury