IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (26-0) has emerged as the poster boy of the division over the last couple of years, scoring a trifecta of showstopping wins against British world title hopefuls. Now, after four consecutive outings on the road, the Aussie is set to return home for what will be a first world title defence in his home country.
Little was known of Opetaia when he jumped into a world title challenge against well-respected IBF champion Mairis Briedis back in 2022 but, despite having to deal with a broken jaw, the stern-faced southpaw was able to pull off the upset and dethrone ‘The Latvian Punisher’.
After 14 months of rehabilitation and inactivity, Opetaia returned to make a stunning defence of his title against Jordan Thompson in a brutal beatdown that was brought to a close after four rounds at Wembley Arena, London.
Opetaia ?? v Thompson ?? pic.twitter.com/Q4FiGAkGNF
— jb ? (@BoxingJb) December 12, 2023
However, complications with the IBF then saw Opetaia stripped of the title prior to his meeting with Ellis Zorro on the fabled ‘Day of Reckoning’ card in Riyadh, although a first-round knockout understandably caught the attention of Saudi boxing powerhouse Turki Al-Alshikh.
Jai Opetaia KO1 Ellis Zorro pic.twitter.com/yCV0nswJaV
— b0xingfan (@b0xingfan) December 31, 2023
Confusingly, Opetaia and Briedis then went to war again in a rematch for the vacant IBF strap just months later and once again it was Opetaia who claimed the unanimous-decision win, before following up that victory with a technical knockout of Jack Massey in a third successive appearance at the Kingdom Arena.
Whilst fans are hopeful that Opetaia could attempt to become an undisputed cruiserweight champion during 2025 and collide with unified champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, the IBF have ordered a showdown between the undefeated Australian and his mandatory challenger, Huseyin Cinkara (22-0).
First reported by The Courier Mail, Opetaia will return to the scene of his first world title win and face the unbeaten German veteran at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on Wednesday January 8th.
? of the cruisers is back!
? @jaiopetaia1 v Hussein Cinkara
? IBF and Ring World Championships
?️ 8th January 2025
? Gold Coast, Australia
?Beat Cinkara and then fight Zurdo? #OpetaiaCinkara pic.twitter.com/lFK51w8c9h
— On the Ropes (@Ontheropes12) November 21, 2024
Further details regarding the undercard are yet to be announced but the event will be available to watch live with a standard DAZN subscription.
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