Jai Opetaia
Jai Opetaia in 2023
Born
Jai Tapu Opetaia

(1995-06-30) 30 June 1995
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Reach76 in (193 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights24
Wins24
Wins by KO19
Medal record
Men's Boxing
Representing  Australia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place2011 AstanaLight heavyweight
World Youth Championships
Bronze medal – third place2012 YerevanHeavyweight

Jai Opetaia (born 30 June 1995) is an Australian professional boxer. He held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) from 2022 until December 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]

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 Cruiser-weight 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]

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] Early on the fight week, Opetaia vacated the title after IBF, that wanted a rematch against former champion Mairis Briedis, ruled to not sanction the fight against Zorro.[49] Opetaia won the fight by knockout in the first round.[50][51]

Professional boxing record

24 fights 24 wins 0 losses
By knockout 19 0
By decision 5 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
24 Win 24–0 Ellis Zorro KO 1 (12), 2:56 23 Dec 2023 Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Retained The Ring cruiserweight title
23 Win 23–0 Jordan Thompson TKO 4 (12), 0:20 30 Sep 2023 OVO Arena Wembley, London, England Retained IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles
22 Win 22–0 Mairis Briedis UD 12 2 Jul 2022 Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, Australia Won IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles
21 Win 21–0 Daniel Russell TKO 3 (8), 1:44 4 Dec 2021 Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, Australia
20 Win 20–0 Benjamin Kelleher TKO 6 (10), 1:50 22 Oct 2020 Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, Australia Retained IBF Asia-Oceania and WBO Global cruiserweight titles
19 Win 19–0 Mark Flanagan TKO 8 (10), 3:00 16 Nov 2019 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia Retained WBA Oceania and WBO Global cruiserweight titles;
Won inaugural IBF Asia-Oceania cruiserweight title
18 Win 18–0 Nikolas Charalampous UD 10 27 Jul 2019 Luna Park, Sydney, Australia Retained WBA Oceania interim cruiserweight title;
Won vacant WBO Global cruiserweight title
17 Win 17–0 Navosa Ioata TKO 8 (10), 1:13 15 May 2019 The Star, Sydney, Australia Won vacant WBA Oceania interim cruiserweight title
16 Win 16–0 Kurtis Pegoraro KO 2 (10), 1:25 29 Jun 2018 Pullman Hotel and Resort, Brisbane, Australia Retained WBO Asia-Pacific cruiserweight title;
Won vacant IBF Pan-Pacific cruiserweight title
15 Win 15–0 Lukas Paszkowsky TKO 2 (10), 2:35 7 Apr 2018 Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Australia Won vacant WBO Asia-Pacific cruiserweight title
14 Win 14–0 Benjamin Kelleher TKO 3 (10), 2:36 17 Jan 2018 The Star, Sydney, Australia Retained Australian cruiserweight title
13 Win 13–0 Frankie Lopez TKO 1 (10), 2:55 21 Oct 2017 Function Centre, Melbourne, Australia Won vacant IBF Youth cruiserweight title
12 Win 12–0 Daniel Ammann TKO 9 (10), 1:49 15 Jul 2017 Wests City Club, Newcastle, Australia Won vacant WBC-OPBF and Australian cruiserweight titles
11 Win 11–0 Moses Havea TKO 2 (8), 1:03 12 May 2017 North Sydney Leagues Club, Sydney, Australia Retained ANBF New South Wales heavyweight title
10 Win 10–0 Kyle Brumby TKO 2 (8), 1:26 8 Apr 2017 Doltone House, Sydney, Australia
9 Win 9–0 Togasilimai Letoa TKO 2 (4), 0:30 10 Feb 2017 Faleata Sporting Complex, Apia, Samoa
8 Win 8–0 Isileli Fa TKO 3 (6), 0:36 23 Dec 2016 Southern Cross Group Stadium, Sydney, Australia
7 Win 7–0 Peter Brennan KO 1 (8), 2:46 9 Dec 2016 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, Australia Won vacant ANBF New South Wales heavyweight title
6 Win 6–0 Uria Afamasaga TKO 2 (4), 0:37 14 Oct 2016 The Silverdome, Launceston, Australia
5 Win 5–0 Sefo Falekaono KO 6 (6), 1:11 22 Jul 2016 Mediterranean House, Sydney, Australia
4 Win 4–0 Orlando Vazquez PTS 4 23 Apr 2016 Centro de Usos Múltiples, Los Mochis, Mexico
3 Win 3–0 Randall Rayment UD 6 28 Nov 2015 Mansfield Tavern, Brisbane, Australia
2 Win 2–0 Rob Manual TKO 1 (4), 2:46 14 Aug 2015 Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
1 Win 1–0 Isileli Fa UD 4 1 Aug 2015 Stadium Southland, Invercargill, New Zealand

See also

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.
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