Jai Opetaia showcased his dominance in the ring by decisively defeating Italian boxer Claudio Squeo, earning a victory by knockout after five rounds. The bout saw Opetaia begin cautiously in the opening round, gradually building momentum. By the second round, he demonstrated his striking abilities with a series of effective punches, and by the third, Squeo was visibly retreating under the pressure.
Boxing commentator Ben Damon noted the heightened intensity as cracks began to show in Squeo’s defences. The fourth round brought a moment of controversy when Squeo went down from a body shot, which led to a dispute over whether the blow was legitimate; the referee ruled it a foul despite crowd jeers upon seeing the replay, which confirmed the strike was to the chest.
Opetaia sealed his victory in the fifth round with a powerful right hook that sent Squeo to the canvas. Referee Robert Hoyle counted him out, concluding a fight where Opetaia exhibited control throughout. Reflecting on the match, Damon remarked that it was only a matter of time before Opetaia secured the win against a resilient opponent. This victory allowed Opetaia to successfully defend his IBF and Ring cruiserweight titles.
Not long after the match ended, reports emerged that Squeo may have suffered a broken jaw, evidenced by his immediate concern for his injury. As Opetaia continues his quest for unification in the cruiserweight division, he expressed interest in a bout against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, the holder of the WBA and WBO titles.
In a post-fight interview, Opetaia emphasised his urgency for unification fights, expressing his frustration and eagerness to face Ramirez. He extended his gratitude to the crowd and supporters from the Pacific Islands and Australia. Staring into the camera, he challenged Ramirez directly, expressing his belief in his capabilities as the premier boxer in the cruiserweight division, and invited negotiations for a fight.
“It’s time to make this happen,” he stated earnestly, urging that he is ready to fight anywhere and at any time. As Ramirez prepares for an upcoming match on a notable undercard, the anticipation builds for a potential face-off between these two champions.