Unbeaten knockout king Jai Opetaia has finally quashed rumors of a heavyweight move, as he remains in his cruiserweight stomping ground for his next fight.
Boasting a gleaming 28-0 professional record, hellacious knockout finisher Jai Opetaia most recently retained his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight belts.
Stopping challenger Claudio Squeo in the fifth round of their title outing back in June, the Australian had been linked with multiple moves next.
Namely, a heavyweight leap was mooted largely; however, Opetaia will remain at cruiserweight for the time being, on the back of his latest fight deal.
Jai Opetaia agrees title defense against Huseyin Cinkara
And with a fight against the current WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez chalked off amid injury, Opetaia had been linked with multiple next steps.
Most notably, Matchroom Boxing leader Eddie Hearn claimed Opetaia could potentially consider a heavyweight move in his immediate return.
But according to a report from the promotion this evening, Opetaia and German veteran Huseyin Cinkara have agreed terms to compete against each other next, with the New South Wales star’s crowns on the line.
“Deal reached, purse bids cancelled… Full fight news dropping soon,” Matchroom posted on X.
And while his future remains at cruiserweight for his next fight at least, Opetaia has been backed by a heavyweight prospect to make the biggest splash possible in a divisional climb.
Jai Opetaia tipped as huge threat to Oleksandr Usyk
Off the back of continued links to a heavyweight leap, Opetaia was naturally suggested as a fresh challenge to two-time undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk — who also captured undisputed cruiserweight gold.
And one party confident of Opetaia’s eventual success in a heavyweight move is Johnny Fisher — with the Brit even picking the unbeaten knockout artist to bring a crashing halt to Usyk’s perfect career run.
“I think Jai Opetaia could beat him (Oleksandr Usyk),” Fisher told Seconds Out.
“At cruiserweight — if he comes up [to heavyweight]. Or, if they meet at bridgerweight.”