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

[JamesPhilips]

100% of people were right in the poll

[joshj909]

100% of people were right in the poll

There's usually one deluded voter or just troll who votes the other way and doesn't identify themselves for these knock over jobs but even they didn't fancy voting for this can

[Ruthless-RKO]

Huseyin Cinkara will be hospitalized for at least two days after he suffered a brain contusion, small brain bleed and fractured C1 vertebra during his eighth-round KO loss to Jai Opetaia, promoter Mick Francis of Tasman Fighters told @ringmagazine.

[Ruthless-RKO]

KO loss leaves Huseyin Cinkara hospitalized with brain bleed, fractured vertebrae

Huseyin Cinkara will be hospitalized for at least two days after suffering a brain contusion, small brain bleed and fractured C1 vertebra during his eighth-round KO loss to Jai Opetaia, promoter Mick Francis of Tasman Fighters told The Ring on Sunday.

Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) retained his Ring Magazine cruiserweight championship with a strong contender for Knockout of the Year. In a tougher-than-expected battle Saturday on Australia’s Gold Coast, Opetaia delivered a left hand that rendered the underdog unconscious.

A cracked C1, also known as a Jefferson fracture, is at the base of the skull and can be life-threatening or cause paralysis.

Australia’s Opetaia, 30, emerged from the fight with a badly swollen right eye. Despite reports he had a fractured orbital, Opetaia didn’t endure any serious injuries, Francis said.

“Jai went fishing the day after the fight and dinner with his family and friends last night,” Francis said. “He is OK and the doctor said Jai has been cleared of any injuries and his cheek will heal over the next couple of weeks.”

The victory was Opetaia’s seventh successful defense of the Ring Magazine 200-pound championship he won in July 2022. After the win over Cinkara (his IBF mandatory defense) Opetaia , reiterated his desire to fight Zurdo Ramirez in a unification next year.

Ramirez is lined up for a Jan. 16 tune-up bout vs. Robin Safar followed by a May 2 fight vs. David Benavidez. Opetaia could also face the winner of Saturday’s WBC cruiserweight title rematch between Badou Jack and Noel Mikaelian.

Cinkara (23-1, 19 KOs), a 40-year-old who fights out of Istanbul, was competing on the world-class level for the first time.

[giacomino]

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)

“mandatories” in some of the governing bodies are absolutely bullshit. Cinkara had beaten nobody to earn even a top 25 ranking, let alone be a mandatory. Neither had any of Jai’s opponents other than Bredis. I still remember they made Zerafa the mandatory for Lara’s paper belt after he beat 50-year-old Anthony Mundine, one fight after Zerafa lost to Jeff Horn. Mandatories are a joke in boxing unless they are earned. If you look at the rankings of all the belt holders right now you won’t have a problem finding the BS ones

[Ruthless-RKO]

Huseyin Cinkara out of hospital after knockout by Jai Opetaia

Huseyin Cinkara has been released from hospital following his chilling knockout defeat by Jai Opetaia.

The Turkish German was stopped in the eighth round of his fight at the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre in the Gold Coast, Australia when he suffered what is certain to be remembered as one of the knockouts of 2025.

He remained motionless for a worryingly lengthy period before medical attention contributed to him recovering consciousness. He was then taken to hospital, where he was diagnosed as having a small fracture of the neck, and kept in hospital as a precaution.

“Huseyin has been back at the hotel since [Tuesday],” said the 40 year old’s manager Alex Metzger. “The bleeding was very minor and, according to the doctor, has stopped.

“Fortunately, the fracture at C1 is only a small crack.”

Opetaia, who was hurt in the second round by Cinkara, believed himself to have suffered a facial injury, but despite heavy bruising he avoided anything more severe.