Opetaia’s ‘monster’ statement in brutal cruiserweight title defence has Eddie Hearn declaring the Aussie will ‘rule the division’
- The Aussie had to wait 15 months to defend his titles
- Broke his jaw during the previous fight, which he won
- It has the backing of legendary boxing promoter Hearn
Eddie Hearn has declared Jai Opetaia the king of the cruiserweights, worthy of hero status and blockbuster title fights in Australia after a ruthless first defense of his world boxing crowns.
Opetaia brutalized hometown hope Jordan Thompson inside four rounds in England on Sunday morning (AEST) to retain the IBF and The Ring belts he won in spectacular fashion last July.
A sweet left landed Thompson on the forehead in the first round to set the tone at London’s Wembley Arena.
The giant Manchester product held steady in the second round, but Opetaia came out again in the third, laying the floor and then finishing him 20 seconds into the fourth round with another combination built around the left hand.
Aussie Jai Opetaia had a commanding victory over England’s Jordan Thompson to retain his IBF and The Ring belts
Opetaia had to wait 15 months to return to the ring to defend his belts after breaking his jaw in the fight he won.
‘I told you. This is what I do… I was born for it, I live for it,” said Opetaia.
“I feel like this fight night was Jordan Thompson’s fight night.
“They did it for him, it’s not about me. They put me in this little ring, thinking they would wait for me, my good works.
“But that’s what happens.”
The Gold Coast-based Sydney talent had to wait 15 months for a chance to defend the belts he won in remarkable fashion, breaking his jaw twice but still prevailing against champion Mairis Briedis in July last year.
That was all one-way traffic though, Opetaia now targeting more belts in fights on home soil after calling out WBO belt holder Chris Billam-Smith, who was ringside, after the win.
Legendary boxing promoter Eddie Hearn believes Opetaia has what it takes to rule the cruiserweight division
OpetOpetaia (centre) poses with his belt, team and Eddie Hearn after the IBF World Cruiserweight Title fight against Jordan Thompson at OVO Arena Wembley
His dominance perhaps explained why the camps of Richard Riakporhe and Mateusz Masternak both pulled out of negotiations at the 11th hour.
Opetaia’s team tried unsuccessfully to mount his first defense in Australia before settling for the UK trip under Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn.
An Olympic heavyweight at just 16 at the 2012 Games, Opetaia also won world junior titles and his record now reads 23-0 with 18 stoppages.
‘This is the guy who will rule the division; he’s the king of the division, a special fighter,” Hearn said.
‘He is a monster; I hope people back home (in Australia) start to understand.
“You have Tim Tszyu who is a great fighter, but this guy has done it, beat champions.
“There will be massive fighting in Australia… he should be a national hero.
“Our job now is to make sure he brings every belt to Australia.”
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