Jai Opetaia

Last updated

Jai Opetaia
Born
Jai Tapu Opetaia

(1995-06-30) 30 June 1995 (age 28)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Reach76 in (193 cm)
Stance Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights25
Wins25
Wins by KO19
Medal record
Men's Amateur boxing
Representing Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2011 AstanaLight heavyweight
World Youth Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2012 Yerevan Heavyweight

Jai Opetaia (born 30 June 1995) is an Australian professional boxer. He held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) from 2022 until 2023 (he vacated the title due to a disagreement with the IBF). He currently holds the Ring magazine and lineal cruiserweight titles. As an amateur, he won a bronze medal at the 2012 Youth World Championships and represented Australia at the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games. [1] As of February 2023, Opetaia is ranked the world's best active cruiserweight by The Ring magazine, [2] and the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, [3] second by BoxRec, [4] and third best by ESPN. [5]

Contents

Early life

Opetaia was born in Sydney, New South Wales and is of Samoan and European Australian heritage. [6] He comes from a boxing family of four generations on his father's side and three generations on his mother's side, [7] as well as sharing notable relations to Australia's greatest ever football goal scorer Tim Cahill and former New Zealand international rugby league player Ben Roberts. [8] In mid-2020, Opetaia relocated his training base to the Gold Coast in an attempt further his career and secure a world title boxing bout, [9] a dream that would become a reality two years later in front of his new hometown fans at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. [10]

Amateur career

Less than a month after his 16th birthday, Opetaia travelled to Kazahkstan to compete in the 2011 Junior World Championships and would win the gold medal in the light heavyweight division by defeating Germany's Melvin Perry 5:3 in the final. [11] His victory marked the first time an Australian had won a junior boxing world championship. [12]

In February 2012, still aged 16, he travelled to Hobart to compete in the 2012 Australian Olympic qualifying tournament where he would win the gold medal in the heavyweight division. A month later he competed in the Oceanic Olympic qualifying tournament held in Canberra and once again emerged victorious in the heavyweight final by defeating New Zealander David Light 15:10. [13] In doing so, Opetaia became the youngest boxer to ever make an Australian Olympic team. [14]

In the lead up to the 2012 Olympics, Opetaia travelled to Armenia to compete in the heavyweight division of the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships and claimed the bronze medal, losing a close 11:9 semifinal to eventual gold medalist Andrey Stotskiy from Russia. [15] A month after his 17th birthday, he travelled to London to compete as the youngest boxer in the heavyweight division of the Olympics and was controversially defeated in the first round 12:11 by eventual bronze medalist Teymur Mammadov from Azerbaijan. [16] In 2014, at the age of 19, Opetaia made the decision to end his amateur career in pursuit of a professional career. [17]

Professional career

Early career

Opetaia was scheduled to face Daniel Ammann for the vacant WBC-OPBF and Australian cruiserweight titles on July 15, 2017. [18] He won the fight by a ninth-round technical knockout. [19] Opetaia was next scheduled to face Frankie Lopez for the vacant IBF Youth cruiserweight title on October 21, 2017. [20] He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. [21]

Opetaia made his first Australian Cruiserweight title defense against Benjamin Kelleher on January 17, 2018. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout. [22] Opetaia fought for yet another regional title on April 7, 2018, when he was set to face Lukas Paszkowsky for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific cruiserweight title. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout. [23] Opetaia made his first WBO Asia-Pacific cruiserweight title defense against Kurtis Pegoraro on June 29, 2018. The fight was simultaneously a fight for the vacant IBF Pan-Pacific cruiserweight title. He won the fight by a second-round knockout. [24]

Opetaia fought Navosa Ioata for the vacant WBA Oceania interim cruiserweight title on May 15, 2019, and won the fight by an eight-round technical knockout. [25] Opetaia made his first title defense two months later, on July 27, 2019, against Nikolas Charalampous, while also fighting for the vacant WBO Global cruiserweight title. He won the fight by unanimous decision. [26] Opetaia made the first defense of these two titles, and fought for the inaugural IBF Asia-Oceania cruiserweight title, against Mark Flanagan on November 16, 2019. [27] He won the fight by an eight-round technical knockout. [28]

Opetaia was scheduled to defend his IBF Asia-Oceania and WBO Global cruiserweight titles in a rematch with Benjamin Kelleher on October 22, 2020. [29] He won the fight by a sixth-round technical knockout. [30]

IBF & lineal cruiserweight champion

Opetaia vs. Briedis

Opetaia was scheduled to challenge the reigning IBF, The Ring and lineal cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis on 6 April 2022. [31] The bout was postponed on February 16, as Briedis tested positive for COVID-19. [32] The bout was rescheduled for 11 May, and was expected to take place at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia. [33] The bout was once again postponed on April 8, as Opetaia suffered a rib injury, [34] and rescheduled for July 2. [35] Opetaia won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 116–112, 116–112 and 115–113. [36] During the fight, Opetaia badly broke his jaw in two places. Unable to give an interview following the match, he was instead taken directly to the hospital to undergo surgery to repair the fractures. [37]

Opetaia vs. Thompson

Opetaia was expected to face mandatory challenger Mateusz Masternak in early 2023, but was forced to undergo left shoulder surgery on February 1, 2023. [38] He requested a 60-day medical extension from the IBF before entering into negotiations with Masternak, which was granted on February 18. [39] The two camps failed to come to terms despite the extension and a pursed bid was called by the sanctioning body for July 15, 2023. [40] Masternak withdrew from the bid a day before it was supposed to take place. The IBF removed Masternak's mandatory status the very next day and ordered Opeteia to face the #2 ranked cruiserweight contender Richard Riakporhe instead. [41] Riakporhe himself withdrew from the negotiations on August 8, 2023, shortly before a scheduled purse bid hearing. [42]

The IBF designated former champion Mairis Briedis as the next mandatory challenger on August 10, 2023. The sanctioning body ordered the two to enter into negotiations that very same day. [43] Opetaia's team requested an immediate purse bid in lie of a negotiation period. [44] The sanctioning body indefinitely suspended the purse bid hearing on August 22. [45] This allowed Opetaia to enter into negotiations with Jordan Thompson for a voluntary title defense that took place at the Wembley Arena in London, England on September 30, 2023. [46] Opetaia defeated Thompson by TKO in the fourth round and made the first successful defense of his belt. [47]

Lineal cruiserweight champion

Opetaia vs. Zorro

On December 23, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Opetaia was expected to make the second defense of his IBF cruiserweight title against Ellis Zorro. [48] During the fight week's early stages, Opetaia vacated the title when the IBF, the sanctioning body, insisted on a mandatory defense against former champion Mairis Briedis, who was recovering from an injury. Consequently, the IBF decided not to sanction the fight against Zorro. [49] Opetaia won the fight by knockout in the first round. [50] [51] He reportedly earned a $680,000 fight purse. [52]

Opetaia vs. Briedis II

Opetaia was expected to face Mairis Briedis for the vacant IBF cruiserweight championship on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk. The fight was initially expected to take place on February 17, 2024, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, [53] but the entire event was later postponed after Tyson Fury suffered a facial injury in training. [54] It was re-scheduled to May 18, 2024, and took place at the same venue as was originally planned. [55] Opetaia defeated Briedis in the rematch by unanimous decision to become a two-time world champion and two-time IBF cruiserweight champion. [56] [57]

Professional boxing record

25 fights25 wins0 losses
By knockout190
By decision60
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
25Win25–0 Mairis Briedis UD12 18 May 2024 Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaRetained The Ring cruiserweight title;
Won vacant IBF cruiserweight title
24Win24–0 Ellis Zorro KO1 (12), 2:56 23 Dec 2023 Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Retained The Ring cruiserweight title
23Win23–0 Jordan Thompson TKO4 (12), 0:2030 Sep 2023 OVO Arena Wembley, London, EnglandRetained IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles
22Win22–0 Mairis Briedis UD122 Jul 2022 Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, AustraliaWon IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles
21Win21–0Daniel RussellTKO3 (8), 1:444 Dec 2021Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, Australia
20Win20–0 Benjamin Kelleher TKO6 (10), 1:5022 Oct 2020Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, AustraliaRetained IBF Asia-Oceania and WBO Global cruiserweight titles
19Win19–0 Mark Flanagan TKO8 (10), 3:0016 Nov 2019Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, AustraliaRetained WBA Oceania and WBO Global cruiserweight titles;
Won inaugural IBF Asia-Oceania cruiserweight title
18Win18–0Nikolas CharalampousUD1027 Jul 2019 Luna Park, Sydney, AustraliaRetained WBA Oceania interim cruiserweight title;
Won vacant WBO Global cruiserweight title
17Win17–0Navosa IoataTKO8 (10), 1:1315 May 2019The Star, Sydney, AustraliaWon vacant WBA Oceania interim cruiserweight title
16Win16–0Kurtis PegoraroKO2 (10), 1:2529 Jun 2018 Pullman Hotel and Resort, Brisbane, AustraliaRetained WBO Asia-Pacific cruiserweight title;
Won vacant IBF Pan-Pacific cruiserweight title
15Win15–0Lukas PaszkowskyTKO2 (10), 2:357 Apr 2018 Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, AustraliaWon vacant WBO Asia-Pacific cruiserweight title
14Win14–0 Benjamin Kelleher TKO3 (10), 2:3617 Jan 2018 The Star, Sydney, AustraliaRetained Australian cruiserweight title
13Win13–0Frankie LopezTKO1 (10), 2:5521 Oct 2017 Function Centre, Melbourne, AustraliaWon vacant IBF Youth cruiserweight title
12Win12–0 Daniel Ammann TKO9 (10), 1:4915 Jul 2017Wests City Club, Newcastle, AustraliaWon vacant WBC-OPBF and Australian cruiserweight titles
11Win11–0Moses HaveaTKO2 (8), 1:0312 May 2017 North Sydney Leagues Club, Sydney, AustraliaRetained ANBF New South Wales heavyweight title
10Win10–0Kyle BrumbyTKO2 (8), 1:268 Apr 2017Doltone House, Sydney, Australia
9Win9–0 Togasilimai Letoa TKO2 (4), 0:3010 Feb 2017 Faleata Sporting Complex, Apia, Samoa
8Win8–0Isileli FaTKO3 (6), 0:3623 Dec 2016 Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney, Australia
7Win7–0Peter BrennanKO1 (8), 2:469 Dec 2016 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, AustraliaWon vacant ANBF New South Wales heavyweight title
6Win6–0Uria AfamasagaTKO2 (4), 0:3714 Oct 2016 The Silverdome, Launceston, Australia
5Win5–0Sefo FalekaonoKO6 (6), 1:1122 Jul 2016Mediterranean House, Sydney, Australia
4Win4–0Orlando VazquezPTS423 Apr 2016Centro de Usos Múltiples, Los Mochis, Mexico
3Win3–0Randall RaymentUD628 Nov 2015Mansfield Tavern, Brisbane, Australia
2Win2–0Rob ManualTKO1 (4), 2:4614 Aug 2015Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
1Win1–0Isileli FaUD41 Aug 2015 Stadium Southland, Invercargill, New Zealand

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Jai Opetaia – Amateur career". boxrec.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  2. ↑ "Ratings". The Ring. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "Rankings – Transnational Boxing Rankings Board" . Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "BoxRec: Ratings". boxrec.com. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "Boxing divisional rankings -- The best top 10 fighters per division". espn.com. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Why Jai Opetaia is ready to showcase world title credentials against Mairis Briedis". 16 February 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "Why 'Ali-like' feat didn't surprise those who know Aussie hero and what's next for new world champ". 4 July 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "Jai Tapu Opetaia - Boxing - Olympic Athlete | London 2012". Archived from the original on 4 April 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  9. ↑ "Olympian Jai Opetaia hunting to bring title fight to The North". 29 August 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "Australia has a new boxing world champ as Jai Opetaia wins 'incredible' cruiserweight title fight". 3 July 2022. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  11. ↑ 2011 Boxing World Junior Championships Results
  12. ↑ Boxing Australia 2011/12 Annual Report
  13. ↑ 2012 Oceanic Olympic Qualifying Results
  14. ↑ Jai Opetaia AUS Olympic Profile
  15. ↑ 2012 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships Results
  16. ↑ Ring of ire: judging standards under attack as spotlight falls on boxing
  17. ↑ Boxer Jai Opetaia's decision to turn professional cruels Olympic gold medal hope
  18. ↑ Parris, Michael (14 July 2017). "Doberman takes new bite at national title". newcastleherald.com.au. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  19. ↑ "Jai Scores TKO Victory". triplem.com.au. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  20. ↑ Raspanti, John J. "Boxing prodigy Jai Opetaia looking to turn heads against Frankie Lopez". maxboxing.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  21. ↑ Ellis, Brock (16 January 2018). "Jai Opetaia recaps swift professional rise, signature 2017 campaign". aus-boxing.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  22. ↑ AAP. "Jai Opetaia keeps unbeaten boxing record". sbs.com.au. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  23. ↑ Rizzuto, Dom (11 April 2018). "Opetaia's rise continues". rabbitohs.com.au. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  24. ↑ Cocks, Anthony. "Jai Opertaia destroys Kurtis Pegoraro in two on the ingugural FUTR card". maxboxing.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  25. ↑ "NEWS: Jai Opetaia takes the win against Navosa Ioata". jolsboxing.home.blog. 13 May 2019. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  26. ↑ Cocks, Anthony. "Rising crusierweight Jai Opetaia dominates Nikolas Charalampous for 18th consecutive victory, Daniel Lewis claims Aussie crown in third bout". maxboxing.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  27. ↑ Helmers, Caden (15 November 2019). "Jai Opetaia set to face Mark Flanagan in National Boxing Series launch". canberratimes.com.au. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  28. ↑ Helmers, Caden (16 November 2019). "Jai Opetaia makes his mark on a night to remember against Mark Flanagan". canberratimes.com.au. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  29. ↑ Bradford, Brendan (15 August 2021). "Jai Opetaia looking to continue path to world title against Ben Kelleher". sportingnews.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  30. ↑ FNA Staff (23 October 2020). "Boxing: Opetaia vs Kelleher II Results". fightnewsaustralia.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  31. ↑ Donovan, Jake (13 February 2022). "Mairis Briedis vs. Jai Opetaia IBF Title Fight Set For April 6 In Australia; Venue TBD". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  32. ↑ Stumberg, Patrick L. (16 February 2022). "Mairis Briedis comes down with COVID, Jai Opetaia title defense delayed". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  33. ↑ "Mairis Briedis-Jai Opetaia Title Fight Rescheduled, May 11 In Australia's Gold Coast". boxingscene.com. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  34. ↑ Stumberg, Patrick L. (8 April 2022). "Jai Opetaia injures ribs, Mairis Briedis fight delayed again". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  35. ↑ "Mairis Briedis Vs Jai Opetaia On July 2 In Australia". boxingnews24.com. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  36. ↑ Donovan, Jake (2 July 2022). "Jai Opetaia Outboxes Mairis Briedis, Claims Cruiserweight Championship In Upset". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  37. ↑ Brunsdon, Simon (2 July 2022). "Ridiculous toughness behind Aussie Jai Opetaia's title win revealed after epic fight". nine.com.au. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  38. ↑ "Jai Opetaia on the Road to Recovery after Successful Surgery". samoaglobalnews.com. February 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  39. ↑ Donovan, Jake (18 February 2023). "Jai Opetaia Granted 60-Day Medical Extension Ahead Of Pending Mandatory Title Defense". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  40. ↑ Donovan, Jake (7 June 2023). "Jai Opetaia-Mateusz Masternak IBF Cruiserweight Title Fight Heads To June 15 Purse Bid". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  41. ↑ Dennen, John (15 June 2023). "Richard Riakporhe mandated for IBF cruiserweight world title shot against Jai Opetaia next". skysports.com. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  42. ↑ Donovan, Jake (8 August 2023). "Richard Riakporhe Pulled From Ordered IBF Title Fight Versus Jai Opetaia, Purse Bid Canceled". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  43. ↑ Donovan, Jake (10 August 2023). "Jai Opetaia-Mairis Briedis Cruiserweight Championship Rematch Ordered By IBF". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  44. ↑ Donovan, Jake (11 August 2023). "Team Opetaia Calls For Immediate Purse Bid In Lieu Of Negotiation Period For IBF-Ordered Briedis Rematch". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  45. ↑ Donovan, Jake (22 August 2023). "Jai Opetaia, Ellie Scotney Title Fight Doubleheader Eyed For September 30 In The UK". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  46. ↑ "Jordan Thompson to face Jai Opetaia for IBF cruiserweight title". bbc.com. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  47. ↑ "Australian boxer Jai Opetaia delivers devastating knock out on his return to the ring to retain world titles". ABC News. 30 September 2023.
  48. ↑ Iskenderov, Parviz (18 December 2023). "Jai Opetaia forced to vacate world title ahead of Ellis Zorro fight". FIGHTMAG.
  49. ↑ "Aussie champ loses belt over Saudi 'no brainer'". wwos.nine.com.au.
  50. ↑ Iskenderov, Parviz (23 December 2023). "Jai Opetaia KO's Ellis Zorro in first round". FIGHTMAG.
  51. ↑ McCartney, Damien. "Aussie's 'ruthless' KO sends Brit 'into the shadow realm'". wwos.nine.com.au.
  52. ↑ "'No cap on $2M': Aussie boxing star Jai Opetaia's insane Saudi fight plan explained". Fox Sports. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  53. ↑ Salazar, Francisco (16 January 2024). "Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis II set for Fury-Usyk in Riyadh". The Ring. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  54. ↑ Naghten, Tom (4 February 2024). "Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis 2: Tyson Fury cut postpones Oleksandr Usyk showdown | Sporting News Australia". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  55. ↑ Naghten, Tom (8 April 2024). "Jai Opetaia next fight: Mairis Briedis rematch confirmed for Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk undercard on May 18 | Sporting News Australia". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  56. ↑ Iskenderov, Parviz (18 May 2024). "Jai Opetaia regains title by decision in rematch against Mairis Briedis". FIGHTMAG.
  57. ↑ "Jai Opetaia survives bloody fight to win vacant IBF cruiserweight title, Fury and Usyk up next". ABC News. 18 May 2024.
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Paul Ogedengbe 		ANBF New South Wales
heavyweight champion
9 December 2016 – 15 July 2017
Won Australian title		Vacant
Title next held by
Matthew Davoren
Vacant
Title last held by
Danny Green 		Australian cruiserweight champion
15 July 2017 – 2018
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Jayden Joseph
Vacant
Title last held by
Anthony McCracken 		OPBF cruiserweight champion
15 July 2017 – 2 July 2022
Won world title		Vacant
Vacant
Title last held by
Dennis Ronert 		IBF Youth cruiserweight champion
21 October 2017 – 2 July 2022
Won world title
Vacant
Title last held by
Ismail Sillakh 		WBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight champion
7 April 2018 – 2019
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Kamshybek Kunkabayev
Vacant
Title last held by
Mosese Sorovi 		IBF Pan Pacific cruiserweight champion
29 June 2018 – 2019
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Benjamin Kelleher
New title WBO Global cruiserweight champion
27 July 2019 – 2022
Vacated		Vacant
Title next held by
Brandon Glanton
IBF Asia Oceania cruiserweight champion
16 November 2019 – 2 July 2022
Won world title		Vacant
World boxing titles
Preceded by IBF cruiserweight champion
2 July 2022 – 18 December 2023
Stripped		Vacant
Title next held by
Himself
The Ring cruiserweight champion
2 July 2022 – present		Incumbent
Vacant
Title last held by
Himself 		IBF cruiserweight champion
18 May 2024 – present
Awards
Previous:
George Kambosos Jr. W 12
vs. Teófimo López 		The Ring Upset of the Year
W 12 vs. Mairis Briedis I
2022		Next:
Rafael Espinoza W12
vs. Robeisy Ramírez
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