---
title: "Jai Opetaia homecoming fight announced as unifications made to wait"
canonical: "https://boxing-social.com/news/jai-opetaia-homecoming-fight-announced/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Tom Eaton"
section: "News"
published: "2024-11-21T10:46:53Z"
modified: "2024-11-21T10:51:43Z"
---

# Jai Opetaia homecoming fight announced as unifications made to wait

**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](https://t.co/Q4FiGAkGNF)
>
> — jb ? (@BoxingJb) [December 12, 2023](https://twitter.com/BoxingJb/status/1734710143898587631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

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](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/jai-opetaia-stops-ellis-zorro/) understandably caught the attention of Saudi boxing powerhouse Turki Al-Alshikh.

> Jai Opetaia KO1 Ellis Zorro [pic.twitter.com/yCV0nswJaV](https://t.co/yCV0nswJaV)
>
> — b0xingfan (@b0xingfan) [December 31, 2023](https://twitter.com/b0xingfan/status/1741532256072618363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

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](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/jai-opetaia-and-ramirez-could-unify-titles/) 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)](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/opetaiamasseyibfmandatory/).

First reported by [The Courier Mail](https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/boxing-mma/boxing-sensation-jai-opetaia-to-return-home-for-worldtitle-fight-at-scene-of-his-broken-jaw-heroics/news-story/f1d2d8ba57de874f83aab2276d3dcc24?amp&nk=42de913b71d761c36d17560af224b7a0-1732142525), 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](https://twitter.com/jaiopetaia1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) v Hussein Cinkara
>
> ? IBF and Ring World Championships
>
> ?️ 8th January 2025
>
> ? Gold Coast, Australia
>
> ? [@DAZNBoxing](https://twitter.com/DAZNBoxing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> ?Beat Cinkara and then fight Zurdo? [#OpetaiaCinkara](https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpetaiaCinkara?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/lFK51w8c9h](https://t.co/lFK51w8c9h)
>
> — On the Ropes (@Ontheropes12) [November 21, 2024](https://twitter.com/Ontheropes12/status/1859529898861195633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

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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