BoxRec

Why not?

Opetaia is reportedly making 4-500k a fight whilst Whyte was reportedly making 5 times that against Moses

Opetaia gets chance to make life changing money stepping up to fight a (relatively) small in weight and height HW with surely a guaranteed shot at the big time if he wins ….

Moses on other hand fights a huge profile fighter whilst having odds stacked in his favour attribute wise

Not the right time for this match. Could be a good one a year or 2 down the line though.

If they could somehow get it though Opetaia would be the perfect opponent to fight prior to facing Usyk I must admit. Their styles are very similar. Southpaw stance. Lots of up and down bobbing.

Considering his age. It's possible Opetaia could potentially be more difficult to beat than Usyk right now. Probably not, but maybe.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 23:02 Not the right time for this match. Could be a good one a year or 2 down the line though.

If they could somehow get it though Opetaia would be the perfect opponent to fight prior to facing Usyk I must admit. Their styles are very similar. Southpaw stance. Lots of up and down bobbing.

Considering his age. It's possible Opetaia could potentially be more difficult to beat than Usyk right now. Probably not, but maybe.

When it comes to boxing promotional strategies it’s absolutely not the right time for this match. But for the sport and for the fighters why not?

Personally I think Opetaia is a huge scalp and huge and incredibly easily promoted event for Itauma.
Similarly I think if Opetaia wants to move to HW and not face a giant for peanuts he can face a young “small” HW for rock star wages.

Out of interest… you say not the right time
Who do you have Winning if it happened ?

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 23:02 Opetaia could potentially be more difficult to beat than Usyk right now. Probably not, but maybe.

Usyk has cleaned up CW division then beaten AJ x2 Fury x2 Dubois x2 etc etc

Opetaia last 3 have all been a bit “meh, who the fornicate are they”

Wales wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 23:17

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 23:02 Opetaia could potentially be more difficult to beat than Usyk right now. Probably not, but maybe.

Usyk has cleaned up CW division then beaten AJ x2 Fury x2 Dubois x2 etc etc

Opetaia last 3 have all been a bit “meh, who the fornicate are they”

I'm not making the argument that Opetaia has beaten better fighters or anything close to that. I'm just saying that Opetaia having a similar style to Usyk, and being about 8 years younger or so could make him a more difficult target potentially.

Of course it's also quite possible that similar style or not, he just don't do it as well as Usyk. We won't know that for sure until we see how he does as a Heavy.

Fair point

I’m looking at Moses options from a promotional standpoint … and Opetaia too…

Moses needs to keep building, can’t not have a “name” but can’t lose either

I think both get rocket ship to moon with a win

Who do you have winning ?

I'd favor Itauma

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 23:46 I'd favor Itauma

Who do you have him beat tomorrow?


Usyk
Parker
Kabayal
AJ
Dubois
fury
Zhang
Hrgovic
Wardley

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 23:46 I'd favor Itauma

Me too… but in another realm I’m m not sure as have we just seen him beat fools and finished fighters

Wales wrote: ↑21 Aug 2025, 00:38

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 23:46 I'd favor Itauma

Who do you have him beat tomorrow?


Usyk
Parker
Kabayal
AJ
Dubois
fury
Zhang
Hrgovic
Wardley

I'd make him a big favorite over Zhang, Hrgovic or Wardley, even though I'd love to be wrong on the Wardley one.

It's hard to favor any fighter over the people at the very top when they're so inexperienced, and more than that. We've never gotten to see much of Itauma either. I'm still not sure how good he is or isn't, haven't got to see him fight for more than a few minutes lol

Wales wrote: ↑21 Aug 2025, 00:38

gilgamesh wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 23:46 I'd favor Itauma

Who do you have him beat tomorrow?


Usyk
Parker
Kabayal
AJ
Dubois
fury
Zhang
Hrgovic
Wardley

No to Usyk, Fury and maybe Kabayel.
Yes to the others.