Australia's undefeated cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia believes Joseph Parker will beat Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia next week to throw a spanner in the works of the American's plans to take on Anthony Joshua in 2024.
Wilder and Joshua will fight in separate fights against Parker and Otto Wallin respectively on December 23 in Riyadh, before potentially facing each other if they both emerge victorious.
They have reportedly already agreed to a deal to fight each other in Saudi Arabia on March 9, indicating they are confident no mistakes will be made.
But Opetaia has warned fans not to get too excited about Wilder and Joshua soon finding themselves in the same ring as he has tipped Parker to beat the Bronze Bomber.
Parker has bounced back from defeat to Britain's Joe Parker last year to win all three of his fights in 2023, with his last two victories coming within three rounds.
Jai Opetaia (pictured) believes Joseph Parker will beat Deontay Wilder on December 23
Wilder (left) returns to the ring for the first time in over a year against Parker (right)
Wilder hopes to fight Anthony Joshua (pictured), but Opetaia thinks Parker will derail those plans
Opetaia has been impressed by the momentum the former world champion has built up and, having closely monitored his progress in recent months, believes the New Zealander is capable of shocking Wilder in Riyadh.
“I support Joseph Parker for Wilder,” he told Mail Sport.
“I feel like he's done a few steps better since his last few games. I see him training hard, he's grinding and I support him all the time.'
Opetaia has his own fight on the Saudi undercard as he faces Britain's Ellis Zorro.
His preparation was disrupted by news that the IBF is prepared to strip him of his world title if he continues with his voluntary defense against Zorro rather than face mandatory challenger Mairis Briedis, whom he won the title against last year in Australia.
Despite being threatened with losing his title, Opetaia is still ready to fight Zorro, his second consecutive British challenger after stopping Jordan Thompson in the fourth round at Wembley Arena in September.
The 28-year-old hopes Zorro is able to bring out the best in him as he has promised to put on a 'big show' in front of a huge global audience who will tune in to one of the biggest boxing cards ever.
Opetaia is on the verge of losing his IBF world title but is still fully focused on putting on a 'big show' against Britain's Ellis Zorro (right) on the Saudi undercard
Zorro becomes Opetaia's second straight British opponent after dominating Jordan Thompson in September
'It's a huge stage, a huge audience that will tune in. It will be great for my profile, great for everything in my career. “I just have to go in there and do what I do,” he said.
“We've been training extremely hard, I feel like I'm prepared for whatever he brings to the table, so I'm hoping for his best because I'm looking forward to putting on a big show.”
“We're fighting on one of the best, if not the best, fight nights I've ever seen in history, so I expect a good fight. I want a good fight.
“I want to show people who the best cruiserweight is and for that I need a good opponent.”
Opetaia has been fighting at the highest level for more than a decade after becoming Australia's youngest-ever Olympic boxer when he competed in London as a 17-year-old in 2012.
But he has endured an intermittently frustrating rise through the professional ranks, with injuries and postponements halting his progress.
He is still recognized by The Ring magazine as the best cruiserweight in the world, and a move to heavyweight is in the offing.
Opetaia plans to move up to heavyweight at some point, but still has goals he wants to achieve first at cruiserweight
Following in the footsteps of the likes of Oleksandr Usyk, Evander Holyfield and David Haye – all of whom have won world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight – is a goal for Opetaia, but he insists he has much more to achieve in the lower weight category before jumping into the blue-riband division of boxing.
“I'm only 28, so I feel like I have a lot of boxes to tick as a cruiserweight first. I would like to collect some more belts,” Opetaia added.
'But it's hard to say, my career has been such a roller coaster with arguments and there have been so many postponements and withdrawals, date changes, I've had so many operations and things like that.
“Nothing has really worked in our favor, but we stay focused, we stay strong, we stay committed and when the time comes and me and my team feel like it's right, we will do it.”