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
Re: Jai Opetaia
Posted: 14 Nov 2023, 17:16
by maverick23
Apparently Riakporhe turned the fight down again. It’s now looking like Opetaia’s fighting Ellis Zorro.
A bad mismatch on paper.
Re: Jai Opetaia
Posted: 14 Nov 2023, 17:17
by Ruthless-RKO
maverick23 wrote: ↑14 Nov 2023, 17:16
Apparently Riakporhe turned the fight down again. It’s now looking like Opetaia’s fighting Ellis Zorro.
Redback Rasta wrote: ↑14 Nov 2023, 23:56
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?
Re: Jai Opetaia
Posted: 15 Nov 2023, 07:09
by jwfg
Are some posters still saying Jai isn't very good, despite sitting at the top of the division?
Re: Jai Opetaia
Posted: 15 Nov 2023, 08:29
by 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.
Re: Jai Opetaia
Posted: 15 Nov 2023, 08:44
by jwfg
leejonesjnr wrote: ↑15 Nov 2023, 08:29
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.
Re: Jai Opetaia
Posted: 15 Nov 2023, 08:50
by 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.
leejonesjnr wrote: ↑15 Nov 2023, 08:29
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.
leejonesjnr wrote: ↑15 Nov 2023, 08:29
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.
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 wrote: ↑15 Nov 2023, 08:51 I was writing similar when you posted that.
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Re: Jai Opetaia
Posted: 15 Nov 2023, 14:16
by Grilling Machine
Re: Jai Opetaia
Posted: 15 Nov 2023, 15:14
by 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.
Re: Jai Opetaia
Posted: 15 Nov 2023, 16:22
by 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.
Re: Jai Opetaia
Posted: 15 Nov 2023, 17:01
by SeanBrennan
samwbr wrote: ↑15 Nov 2023, 16:22
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 wrote: ↑15 Nov 2023, 16:22
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.
samwbr wrote: ↑15 Nov 2023, 16:22
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 was writing similar when you posted that.
