In July of 2022, a comparatively unknown Australian fighter Jay Opetaia defeated the cruiserweight legend Mairis Briedis. No matter his age (37 on the time), Latvian was nonetheless thought-about one of the best fighter within the 200-pound division. This combat of the 12 months contender confirmed the world that Opetaia has all the mandatory instruments to be on the prime: bodily talents, braveness and dedication.
Throughout 2023, he knocked out two opponents who had been each badly over-matched, Jordan Thompson and Ellis Zorro. These two straightforward victories attracted much more consideration from the boxing public exterior off his residence nation. In Could of this 12 months, with one other victory over Briedis, Jay confirmed his standing of the IBF champion and one of the best cruiserweight on the planet proper now.
The combat with Jack Massey
Though this conflict is barely one of many opening fights on the Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev card, each fighters may benefit from it. Given the significance of the principle bout, it is going to be an important alternative for Opetaia to draw extra informal followers, who could not but be acquainted with his immense skills within the ring.
Along with his giant body, ”One smack” Jack belongs to the heavyweights, one thing he already confirmed with occasional appearances among the many large guys. At 6 ft 4 inches, he’s taller than Opetaia and has a bigger arm span. Boxing behind a fairly stable jab, Massey may be very disciplined and affected person, with a greater than stable approach. Victory towards excellent Isaac Chamberlain is one of the best indicator of his capabilities.
Nonetheless, bodily attributes favor the Australian. Opetaia strikes like a middleweight, has fairly good hand pace and highly effective punch. He packing containers with brief, exact mixtures and may be very harmful on the counterattack. If the opponent is shaken, he can end the match rapidly. Ellis Zorro combat is one of the best instance.
As well as, Opetaia has one other high quality of an important champion: he can keep calm even when taking a critical beating. Within the fourth spherical of the primary combat, Briedis broke his jaw, however Jay boxed eight extra rounds and gained. With solely 25 matches, he seems like a veteran of the ring. All in all, Jay is the favourite towards Massey. Though the Briton is anticipated to place up a great combat, this conflict will nonetheless go to the Aussie fighter, most certainly by unanimous resolution, even a doable knockout within the later rounds.
Cruiserweight panorama
Chris Billiam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe confronted one another for the second time in June this 12 months. Billiam-Smith gained a hard-fought resolution, however extra importantly, neither of them was on the stage of Briedis, who was overwhelmed twice by Opetaia. Jay’s athleticism could be essential right here as effectively, after which, in fact, his technical abilities and wonderful newbie pedigree.
WBC champion Noel Mikaelian is one other doable rival, if he can defeat a tough punching Canadian Ryan Rozicki later this 12 months. Most boxing specialists anticipate Opetaia to unify all of the belts within the subsequent 12 months or two, which opens up the likelihood to go up in weight and problem the large boys, one thing each actual boxing fan would like to see.
