Source link : https://boxe-news.com/hearn-predicts-all-time-classic-opetaia-vs-usyk-in-18-months/
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 money from” Turki Al-Shiekh.
Hearn revealed that the plan is to extend Opetaia’s “credibility” by having him grow to be 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 no less than 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 recognition and cash.
Pretty much as good as Opetaia seemed on Wednesday evening, 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 is going to collect all the belts at cruiserweight to become undisputed, and then we want to push him into a fight against Oleksandr Usyk in the heavyweight division to try and become undisputed as well,” mentioned 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 individual at cruiserweight or heavyweight that may genuinely give Oleksandr Usyk an actual, actual combat, however to do it, now we have to select up each belt within the cruiserweight first to present him the credibility and the cash from His Excellency to make Oleksandr Usyk get within the ring.
“Trust me, in 12 to 18 months, Jai Opetaia against Oleksandr Usyk is an all-time classic,” mentioned Hearn.
Opetaia may come undone when he will get in with WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs). That’s a giant step up from the likes of Nyika and a pale Mairis Briedis. He may lose to Zurdo, which might wreck Hearn’s imaginative and prescient of him shifting as much as problem Usyk.
In Usyk’s case. He may retire quickly or get crushed by IBF champion Daniel Dubois. Usyk is not going to look forward to Opetaia to gather all of the belts at cruiserweight earlier than preventing once more. He’ll keep energetic, 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 appeared to be a authorized physique shot, however the referee dominated it a low blow. Replays confirmed it was on the beltline. Dubois will concentrate on Usyk’s physique in a rematch, understanding he’s weak there.
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Publish date : 2025-01-09 03:14:07
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