GOLD COAST, Australia – The next major fight for Jai Opetaia is anticipated to be a cruiserweight unification battle against Mexican boxing star Gilberto Ramírez.
Fighting on Sunday evening at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, the 29-year-old Australian champion made quick work of his Italian opponent, Claudio Squeo. Opetaia applied significant pressure and punishment over four and a half rounds in a clearly one-sided affair.
The fight concluded definitively in the fourth round. Opetaia landed a hard right hook that reportedly fractured Squeo’s jaw, causing him to drop to his knees. Referee Robert Hoyle had no choice but to immediately halt the contest.
Speaking immediately after his victory, Opetaia expressed his intent: “I was in a rush, I really wanted to get him out of there. We did what we had to do, and we`ve got a lot more to go. I`m chasing these unification fights, and it`s frustrating.”
The significant physical difference was apparent from the start; Squeo weighed in nearly four kilograms lighter than Opetaia the previous day, resulting in a stark disparity in size and height.
Opetaia took the initial round to assess Squeo`s style before stepping up his attack and completely overwhelming his opponent.
This win marks Opetaia`s sixth successful defense of his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight world championships. His professional record now stands unblemished at 28 victories, further solidifying his status and reinforcing his pursuit of unifying the division`s belts.
Opetaia has frequently voiced his strong desire for a fight against Gilberto Ramírez, who currently holds the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles.
There have been rumors that a potential clash between Opetaia and Ramírez could feature on the undercard of the major September fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. However, this remains unconfirmed at present.
Asked about his next steps, Opetaia was clear: “I`m chasing these world champions, that`s what I`m focused on. Next fight, Gilberto Ramírez. Let`s get it on. I`m chasing the belts. The fight is easy to be made. Let`s do it.”
Ramírez is scheduled to compete against Yuniel Dorticos later this month in Anaheim. If Ramírez emerges victorious from that bout, a matchup against Opetaia seems highly probable.
Opetaia`s manager, Mick Francis, commented on the prospective fight with Ramírez, stating, “Turki Al-Sheikh has been talking about this fight for quite a while. But it`s up to them, they need to say `yes, we`re here, we`re ready, let`s make it happen.`”