Following his recent victory in Gold Coast, Australia, Australian cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia is now expected to pursue a unification bout against Mexican fighter Gilberto Ramirez.
The 29-year-old delivered a commanding performance against his Italian challenger, Claudio Squeo, on Sunday evening. Opetaia controlled the action for four and a half rounds, culminating in a powerful right hook that reportedly broke Squeo`s jaw. The injury prompted referee Robert Hoyle to stop the one-sided contest as Squeo was unable to continue.
Speaking immediately after the fight, Opetaia stated, “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 physical difference between the two fighters was noticeable from the outset, with Squeo weighing almost four kilograms less than Opetaia at Saturday`s weigh-in. Opetaia used the first round to assess his opponent before increasing his intensity and dominating the subsequent rounds.
This win marks Opetaia`s sixth successful defense of his IBF and The Ring world championships, extending his perfect professional record to 28-0. His continued dominance reinforces his position as a top contender ready to challenge for more belts in the cruiserweight division.
Opetaia has frequently expressed his strong desire to face Gilberto Ramirez, who holds the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles. Rumors have circulated that a potential clash could feature on the undercard of the high-profile Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight in Las Vegas this September, although confirmation is pending.
When asked about his next steps, Opetaia was clear about his focus: “I`m chasing these world champions, that`s what I`m focused on. Next fight, Gilberto Ramirez. Let`s get it on. I`m chasing the belts. The fight is easy to be made. Let`s do it.”
Gilberto Ramirez is scheduled to fight Yuniel Dorticos later this month in Anaheim. Should Ramirez emerge victorious from that bout, a showdown with Opetaia appears increasingly probable.
Opetaia`s manager, Mick Francis, commented on the potential matchup, mentioning that Turki Al-Sheikh has shown interest in this fight previously. However, Francis emphasized the need for Ramirez`s camp to commit: “But it`s up to them,” he said. “They need to say, `yes, we`re here, we`re ready, let`s make it happen.`”
Ellis Thorne 
Percy Harlow