Jai Opetaia, the undefeated IBF and The Ring champion, plans to travel to Los Angeles to face his next target in person, after the Australian boxer declared that he will not rush into his dream of unifying the cruiserweight titles.
Opetaia will make a mandatory defense of his belts against Turkish challenger Huseyin Cinkara (23-0) on December 6 on the Gold Coast.
This will be his eighth fight since he won both belts more than three years ago, and it comes after impressive knockouts in his only two appearances in 2025, leading him to a 28-0 record.
Despite these victories, the 30-year-old boxer has not been able to unify his titles. Opetaia’s power and Australia’s relatively small commercial market have deterred other belt holders.
Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramírez, owner of the WBO and WBA belts, is the main obstacle. Ramírez announced a defense for May of next year against the American David Benavidez, in what will be his return after a shoulder surgery.
Badou Jack, born in Sweden and boxing out of Las Vegas, will put his WBC belt on the line in a rematch with Noel Mikaelian in Los Angeles on December 6.
Opetaia’s team has criticized Ramirez for avoiding Opetaia, who, instead, will aim for Jack’s WBC belt first, if all goes according to plan on the Gold Coast next Saturday.
They are playing, but we are still winning.
Mick Francis, head of Tasman Fighters and promoter of Opetaia, reported that the team will fly to the United States immediately after the fight against Cinkara to force the situation with the winner of that fight. Opetaia is not interested in following unnecessary protocols, but will cooperate.I’m not in a hurry. I’m calm, I’m winning, I feel good and I fight, I do my thing and these fights will come. I won’t let anyone rush me or speed up the process of achieving my dreams.
Jai Opetaia
The talented Gold Coast-based boxer will headline a packed card that includes former world champion Jason Moloney, heavyweights Justis Huni and Teremoana Jnr, Max McIntyre, Ben Mahoney and Paul Fleming against Jake Wyllie. In a groundbreaking move, Francis has partnered with Stan Sports in a pay-per-view deal that will be the streaming service’s biggest boxing production, rivaling Fox Sports’ Main Event and the global streaming service DAZN. Opetaia, Australia’s youngest Olympic boxer at the London 2012 Games, at just 17 years old, and Huni were Francis’ first signings in 2017.I don’t know why I would have to fly and face him; it’s getting a bit stupid. Everyone wants these fights to happen, people want to see these unification fights. If he wants to fight, we will fight.
Jai Opetaia
We’ve always gone against the grain and done things differently. Now they’re starting to see it, but it’s just another day at the office for us. I only focus on winning, because that’s what matters. If I lose the fight, everyone will scatter.
Jai Opetaia
