Opetaia Sets Sights on Jack, Plans LA Confrontation in Pursuit of Cruiserweight Unification
A determined Jai Opetaia is prepared to take his pursuit of undisputed cruiserweight champion status directly to his rivals, announcing plans to travel to Los Angeles to challenge potential opponents face-to-face. The unbeaten IBF and The Ring champion will first defend his titles against Turkish challenger Huseyin Cinkara (23-0) on December 6th on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Opetaia, 30, has dominated since claiming his belts over three years ago, boasting a 28-0 record punctuated by impressive knockout victories in his two bouts this year. However, unifying the cruiserweight division has proven elusive, with other belt holders seemingly reluctant to share the ring with the Australian powerhouse.
“They’re taking the piss, but we just keep winning,” Opetaia stated on Tuesday.
The primary obstacle appears to be Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, who holds the WBO and WBA titles. Ramirez has scheduled a May 2026 defense against American David Benavidez following his recovery from shoulder surgery, effectively sidelining him from a potential unification bout with Opetaia for the foreseeable future. Swedish-born Badou Jack, fighting out of Las Vegas, is also proving difficult to pin down, with a WBC title rematch against Noel Mikaelian scheduled for December 6th in Los Angeles.
Opetaia’s team has publicly criticized Ramirez’s avoidance tactics, and the champion is now shifting his focus to Jack’s WBC belt. According to his promoter, Mick Francis of Tasman Fighters, Opetaia and Francis will immediately travel to the United States after the Cinkara fight to directly engage with Jack’s camp.
“We have always gone against the grain and done things differently,” Opetaia explained. “Now you’re starting to see it, but it’s another day in the office for us.”
While Opetaia expressed some frustration with the need for such direct action, he remains resolute. “I don’t know why I’d have to fly over and get in his face; it’s becoming a bit stupid,” he said. “Everyone wants these fights to be made, people want to see these unification fights. If he wants to fight, we’ll fight.”
Beyond unification, Opetaia has ambitions to move up in weight and become a multi-division world champion, but insists he will not be rushed. “I’m not in any rush. I’m chilling, I’m winning, I feel good and fighting, doing my thing and these fights will come,” he said. “I won’t let anyone rush me or speed up the process of accomplishing my dreams.”
The December 6th card on the Gold Coast is expected to be a significant event, featuring former world champion Jason Moloney, as well as heavyweight contenders Justis Huni and Teremoana Jnr, alongside Max McIntyre, Ben Mahoney, and Paul Fleming facing Jake Wyllie. In a landmark deal, Francis has partnered with Stan Sports for a pay-per-view broadcast, aiming to rival established boxing platforms like Fox Sports’ Main Event and DAZN.
Notably, Opetaia and Huni were Francis’s first signings back in 2017, demonstrating a long-term commitment to developing Australian boxing talent. The champion emphasized his unwavering focus on victory. “I just focus on winning, because that’s what matters. If I lose the fight they’ll all scatter.”
