Eddie Hearn says IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia will probably be difficult Oleksandr Usyk for his heavyweight world titles in “12 to 18 months” with the assistance of “the cash from” Turki Al-Shiekh.
Hearn revealed that the plan is to extend Opetaia’s “credibility” by having him develop into the undisputed cruiserweight champion first by capturing the WBA, WBC, and WBO belts from Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Badou Jack. As soon as Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) does that, he’ll transfer as much as heavyweight to problem Usyk for his belts if he’s not retired or crushed by somebody earlier than then.
Skipping The Line?
There’s something off-putting about Opetaia being given a title shot in his first combat at heavyweight with out at the very least preventing a title eliminator or one of many high contenders ready to compete for a world title. When a fighter will get a straight title shot with out even competing within the division first, boxing appears much less like an actual sport and extra about simply reputation and cash.
Nearly as good as Opetaia regarded on Wednesday night time, knocking out David Nyika (10-1, 9 KOs) within the fourth spherical on the Gold Coast Conference Centre, Broadbeach, in Queensland, Australia, it’s troublesome to think about him defeating heavyweight contenders like Martin Bakole.
18-Month Plan
“Jai goes to gather all of the belts at cruiserweight to develop into undisputed, after which we need to push him right into a combat towards Oleksandr Usyk within the heavyweight division to try to develop into undisputed as nicely,” stated Eddie Hearn to DAZN, speaking about wanting Jai Opetaia to gather all of the titles at cruiserweight after which transfer as much as heavyweight to do the identical up there.
“I imagine he’s the one particular person at cruiserweight or heavyweight that may genuinely give Oleksandr Usyk an actual, actual combat, however to do it, now we have to choose up each belt within the cruiserweight first to provide him the credibility and the cash from His Excellency to make Oleksandr Usyk get within the ring.
“Belief me, in 12 to 18 months, Jai Opetaia towards Oleksandr Usyk is an all-time basic,” stated Hearn.
Opetaia may come undone when he will get in with WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs). That’s an enormous step up from the likes of Nyika and a light Mairis Briedis. He might lose to Zurdo, which might smash Hearn’s imaginative and prescient of him transferring as much as problem Usyk.
In Usyk’s case. He may retire quickly or get crushed by IBF champion Daniel Dubois. Usyk won’t look ahead to Opetaia to gather all of the belts at cruiserweight earlier than preventing once more. He’ll keep lively, and one of many apparent fights that might occur subsequent is a rematch with Dubois.
Oleksandr was fortunate to not be knocked out of their combat on August 26, 2023. He was dropped by what seemed to be a authorized physique shot, however the referee dominated it a low blow. Replays confirmed it was on the beltline. Dubois will deal with Usyk’s physique in a rematch, understanding he’s weak there.
