Jai Opetaia

[dookus]

ya the world #1

jai won that clearly , very very talented, more than cbs. he was an olympian at 17 for good reason. jai isnt any better than the likes of tommy mac or chamberlain? wtf are you on mate, that's such a bizarre take that im not even sure what to say

Andy Holligan v Julio Cesar Chavez all over again

[maverick23]

Apparently Riakporhe turned the fight down again. It’s now looking like Opetaia’s fighting Ellis Zorro.

A bad mismatch on paper.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Apparently Riakporhe turned the fight down again. It’s now looking like Opetaia’s fighting Ellis Zorro.

A bad mismatch on paper.

This will be on the Saudi Dec 23rd card?

[maverick23]

Apparently Riakporhe turned the fight down again. It’s now looking like Opetaia’s fighting Ellis Zorro.

A bad mismatch on paper.

This will be on the Saudi Dec 23rd card?

Yup.

[JamesPhilips]

Is Zorro ranked??! Seems a dreadful mismatch

[Redback Rasta]

Does anybody any good want to fight Opetaia? Anyone?

[gregregegg]

Does anybody any good want to fight Opetaia? Anyone?

I think briadis wants the rematch.

But the division is weak and there are easier belts to poach. So na not many top guys want that L.

I want quick unifications then him to go to heavyweight, cruisers been lame since usyk, gasieve, and hunter moved up.

[maverick23]

Is Zorro ranked??! Seems a dreadful mismatch

He’s ranked in the top 15 by the WBO and WBA but strangely not by the IBF.

The IBF are usually pretty strict so let’s see what happens.

[Redback Rasta]

Does anybody any good want to fight Opetaia? Anyone?

I think briadis wants the rematch.

But the division is weak and there are easier belts to poach. So na not many top guys want that L.

I want quick unifications then him to go to heavyweight, cruisers been lame since usyk, gasieve, and hunter moved up.

Briedis was offered the previous fight with Opetaia but declined because he was injured at the time. Not sure how his is now?

[jwfg]

Are some posters still saying Jai isn't very good, despite sitting at the top of the division?

[leejonesjnr]

JO won’t be moving up I don’t think. He doesn’t have a big enough frame to carry the extra weight and be effective at the top.
I’m sure he’d rather be the unbeatable killer cruiser than an also ran heavy.

[jwfg]

JO won’t be moving up I don’t think. He doesn’t have a big enough frame to carry the extra weight and be effective at the top.
I’m sure he’d rather be the unbeatable killer cruiser than an also ran heavy.

A lot of that will depend on money. If he makes a few defences and moves up unbeaten, the IBF have a rule where by he will automatically get a top 10 ranking. A shot against the then IBF heavyweight champion will likely be a career high purse. If he wins, it's rock star money.

[The Gratest]

If he does go on to become the outright King at cruiser though, there always will be that temptation of testing himself against the heavyweights for more $$$.
Cruisers will always be sparring against heavies in the gym and how he fares in that might play a part in his mindset. At the end of the day, when it comes down to securing financial stability before your final fight, it's often the money aspect that takes precedent over titles.
Being outright cruiser King offers an almost direct route to the HW titles, and the likes of Fury, Usyk, Wilder and possibly Joshua, will probably be retired by then.

[The Gratest]

JO won’t be moving up I don’t think. He doesn’t have a big enough frame to carry the extra weight and be effective at the top.
I’m sure he’d rather be the unbeatable killer cruiser than an also ran heavy.

A lot of that will depend on money. If he makes a few defences and moves up unbeaten, the IBF have a rule where by he will automatically get a top 10 ranking. A shot against the then IBF heavyweight champion will likely be a career high purse. If he wins, it's rock star money.

I was writing similar when you posted that.

[jwfg]

JO won’t be moving up I don’t think. He doesn’t have a big enough frame to carry the extra weight and be effective at the top.
I’m sure he’d rather be the unbeatable killer cruiser than an also ran heavy.

A lot of that will depend on money. If he makes a few defences and moves up unbeaten, the IBF have a rule where by he will automatically get a top 10 ranking. A shot against the then IBF heavyweight champion will likely be a career high purse. If he wins, it's rock star money.

I was writing similar when you posted that.

We are as one.

[The Gratest]

A lot of that will depend on money. If he makes a few defences and moves up unbeaten, the IBF have a rule where by he will automatically get a top 10 ranking. A shot against the then IBF heavyweight champion will likely be a career high purse. If he wins, it's rock star money.

I was writing similar when you posted that.

We are as one.

"The Knitting Circle"

[jwfg]

I was writing similar when you posted that.

We are as one.

"The Knitting Circle"

I got my membership card in the post today. Member number #349,241. Can't believe there are so many of us.

[Grilling Machine]

[olij999]

I like what Opetaia is doing. If you get offered what should be a straightforward defence against an overmatched challenger, take it, deal with your mandatory once in a while, and keep defending, keep travelling, as there will be difficult fights soon enough. Take the title on the road, like Eusebio Pedroza, Brian Mitchell (although he had no choice), and the great Johnny Nelson's two-weight WBF title reigns. Follow the greats.

[samwbr]

Cant help but think Ellis Zorro is being brought in to get knocked out in spectacular fashion on a global event. Big exposure for Jai.

[SeanBrennan]

Cant help but think Ellis Zorro is being brought in to get knocked out in spectacular fashion on a global event. Big exposure for Jai.

very possibly, I hope you're wrong though mate. Zorro comes across well, and I enjoyed watching his fight vs Spelman, it was a war. It was a FOTY for me. Thomas Hauser wrote a fantastic article about it in Boxing News https://boxingnewsonline.net/reflection ... york-hall/ and I've spoken to Hauser on boxing since, he actually responds to emails and is really nice. He has followed Zorro's career since. Less Spelman as he had to retire one fight after due to medical advice. I hope Zorro does himself proud, I've followed him since the fight since I followed Spelman's career from his debut as he's related to a friend and he was from our home town so we could watch him live. Anyway I'm rambling (as ever) to procrastinate from finishing a work report...

[samwbr]

Cant help but think Ellis Zorro is being brought in to get knocked out in spectacular fashion on a global event. Big exposure for Jai.

very possibly, I hope you're wrong though mate. Zorro comes across well, and I enjoyed watching his fight vs Spelman, it was a war. It was a FOTY for me. Thomas Hauser wrote a fantastic article about it in Boxing News https://boxingnewsonline.net/reflection ... york-hall/ and I've spoken to Hauser on boxing since, he actually responds to emails and is really nice. He has followed Zorro's career since. Less Spelman as he had to retire one fight after due to medical advice. I hope Zorro does himself proud, I've followed him since the fight since I followed Spelman's career from his debut as he's related to a friend and he was from our home town so we could watch him live. Anyway I'm rambling (as ever) to procrastinate from finishing a work report...

It was a great fight but don't think either Dec or Zorro are world level. I hope he can give a good account but think Jai is a cut above him.

[cormack]

zorro getting put to the sword by opetaia .

way out of his league .

[SeanBrennan]

Cant help but think Ellis Zorro is being brought in to get knocked out in spectacular fashion on a global event. Big exposure for Jai.

very possibly, I hope you're wrong though mate. Zorro comes across well, and I enjoyed watching his fight vs Spelman, it was a war. It was a FOTY for me. Thomas Hauser wrote a fantastic article about it in Boxing News https://boxingnewsonline.net/reflection ... york-hall/ and I've spoken to Hauser on boxing since, he actually responds to emails and is really nice. He has followed Zorro's career since. Less Spelman as he had to retire one fight after due to medical advice. I hope Zorro does himself proud, I've followed him since the fight since I followed Spelman's career from his debut as he's related to a friend and he was from our home town so we could watch him live. Anyway I'm rambling (as ever) to procrastinate from finishing a work report...

It was a great fight but don't think either Dec or Zorro are world level. I hope he can give a good account but think Jai is a cut above him.

I agree definitely.

[Oiky]

Opetaia is a machine