Boxing
Jai Opetaia wants to claim top dog status this weekend.
Published
1 month agoon
Two-time IBF cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetai reclaimed the belt and confirmed his status as the top fighter in his division after his long-awaited rematch with Mairis Briedis on the Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk card on May 18 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
Nearly two years after the all-out war on Australia’s Gold Coast, where Opetaia broke both sides of his jaw, the rematch was a much more technical affair. The judges scored the fight 117-111 and 116-112 twice for the Australian to win the title he vacated before his debut in Saudi Arabia in delayed 2023.
“I think everyone was shocked by how the fight went,” Opetaia said Boxing news. “I expected a completely different type of aggression, and honestly, we prepared for a completely different type of fight. He really showed his experience in the ring and really earned my respect. The rematch was more about his learning, it was a bit of a chess match. I thought his age might make him die a little.
“There were a few things that went wrong in our camp injury-wise, but I was always in good shape and knew I was ready for the full 12 rounds. I knew I had it in my pocket to be able to dig deep when I needed it. It wasn’t such a fast-paced fight, there weren’t piles of punches involved, and the presence of the body and constant thinking still took a lot of time!
“It’s a completely different piece of fitness in itself. If you’re not vigilant 24/7 in high-stakes, high-pressure fights, you can get caught and start losing. He kept his pace and remained alert throughout the fight. He proved why he was at the top in my eyes for so long. I expected it to be a lot easier, to be candid. I thought he would tardy down and I would be able to hurt him. I definitely learned a lot from this fight and I’m definitely better because of it. Everything is positive, I learned a lot of lessons and I took it as a huge learning experience. “
The 25-0, 19 KO southpaw would never have been able to predict his career between his two fights with Briedis. While recovering from multiple broken jaws, Opetaia and former promoter Dean Lonergan became involved in a legal dispute that is still not resolved. Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom has provided the Australian with access to services almost 15 months after the bloodbath that saw him become world champion for the first time.
Opetaia knocked out undefeated Jordan Thompson over four rounds at Wembley Arena to celebrate his partnership with Hearn on his British debut. The riches of Riyad’s season came when Turki Alalshikh identified Opetaia as part of a heavyweight double-header that would see Anthony Joshua eliminate Otto Wallin in the fifth round and Joseph Parker unexpectedly overtake Deontay Wilder on December 23.
The increasingly coveted rematch with Briedis was originally scheduled to be part of a Saudi boxing extravaganza that saw Daniel Dubois-Jarrell Miller, Agit Kabayel-Arslanbek Makhmudov and Dmitry Bivol defend their WBO lithe heavyweight belt against Lyndon Arthur. Opetaia will instead face another undefeated Englishman in Ellis Zorro, but will be stripped of his title by the IBF for not facing a ranked opponent in Riyad.
“It’s been a crazy journey, man,” Opetaia said with some relief. “I lost the belt outside the ring, but now I have it back. I am a two-time world champion. It was good to have these two fights between Briedis. All I ever wanted was to be busy, and I was busy. I was punished for it, but it is what it is. Everything turned out very positive. I had the opportunity to fight on some of the greatest fight nights the world has ever seen. We go up and wait.
“It’s great to be a part of it and they really raise the bar with some of the best performances of the decade. I am blessed to be a part of this. I feel like this shot is destiny. It all led to this, these opportunities, training over the years. It’s good to be here. I feel like I deserve it. If you asked me if I would ever vacate the world title, I would never believe you.
Alalshikh reportedly made a seven-figure offer to Opetai and WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith to unify half of the 200-pound division on the undercard of an undisputed lithe heavyweight bout between Russian rivals Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol on October 12 in Riyad. Since then, Opetaia has continued to fight via video on social media.
However, Billam-Smith said Boxing news last week: “I think they wanted October 12, and I’m not going to shorten camp for anyone. I’ve never done that in my career, except when it was absolutely necessary with Isaac Chamberlain. He added later. “Ideally we would like to fight Opetaia, but if he can only fight on October 12 and I can only fight in November/December, it won’t happen. I’m cheerful to fight him. I will be ready at the turn of November and December. Obviously you have the December card and then I will be cheerful to fight him. The team will take care of the rest.”
The WBC title currently sits in Armenia’s trophy case Noel Mikaelyanwho will defend the belt against Ryan Rozicki on September 28 in Miami [that bout was later cancelled – Ed]. Gilberto Ramirez is the WBA champion after winning a unanimous decision over Arsene Goulamirian in March. Perhaps Opetai’s dreams of reunification will have to wait.
“If I don’t standardize the titles, I’ll feel like I’m not going in the right direction,” Opetaia explained. “I don’t understand the other side’s reluctance not to fight. This is a huge opportunity, a chance to do something historic in sports. All I’m doing is chasing belts that I’ve never had before, WBC, WBA, WBO. I want these belts to become the undisputed champion. What else would I do? Chasing uncomplicated fights?
“I really can’t come to terms with the fact that other champions don’t take chances with both hands. I’m having a difficult time keeping my head together. We will always be able to find the fight. There will be many fighters who will take the opportunity without the belt, it’s a win, a win for them. That’s why most players train so difficult.”
Opetaia will fight his third stand-up fight in the capital of Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, Riyad became home to a Sydney-born slugger we knew little about until he wrested the cruiserweight crown from Briedis over two years ago.
“I gave up the world title to fight on a bigger stage, and everything fell into place and I won the belt back in one of the greatest fights of all time,” Opetaia added. “I’m glad we stayed in good shape throughout the period. We just made sure we were prepared and didn’t get into any bullshit or put anyone down. All I have to do is focus on winning fights. The season in Riyad adds a modern dimension to boxing, where all I have to do is keep my head down and everything else will follow. I have to train difficult and fight whoever they put in front of me, that’s who I have to beat.
“The first card I fought on, that Day of Reckoning card, was amazing. It had Bivol, AJ, Wilder, Parker, Dubois, Baby Miller… It was just huge. This is one of the most stacked cards I have ever seen in my life, of course they branch out and make more of them. It was crazy to just get your foot in the door and brush against that size, it was just huge. But honestly, it made my blood boil that the IBF wouldn’t let me fight that fight and was holding me back from achieving my goals and moving forward in life just because of a rulebook that was written a damn century ago. It was risky and risky, but it all paid off.”
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Boxing
George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team
Published
8 hours agoon
November 23, 2024Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.
Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.
The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.
Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.
The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.
“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.
“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.
“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”
Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.
“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].
Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.
“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.
Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.
“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.
Boxing
Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul
Published
2 days agoon
November 21, 2024One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.
WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.
Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.
“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.
“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.
“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”
Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.
Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.
Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.
Boxing
Lauren Price looks to win Jonas vs Habazin with an undercard victory
Published
2 days agoon
November 21, 2024Lauren Price MBE will defend her world title for the first time on Saturday, December 14 at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool, while the Welsh champion plans to stage an all-British unification clash with welterweight rival Natasha Jonas, which will headline the Collision Course that night.
Price defends her WBA welterweight title against undefeated Colombian challenger Bexcy Mateus on the same night as Jonas attempts to unify the IBF and WBC titles with Ivana Habazin as part of BOXXER’s ‘Collision Course’ fight night, which can be seen live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK UK and Ireland and Peacock in the US.
Price MBE (7-0, 1 KO) made history with an excellent performance, defeating former undisputed welterweight world ruler Jessica McCaskill in front of her fans in Cardiff in May.
Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, once again entered the record books by becoming the country’s first world champion in just her seventh professional fight. The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach, who has yet to lose a round as a professional, will now defend her world titles for the first time as she focuses on dominating the welterweight division.
Mateus (7-0, 6 KO), ranked No. 5 in the WBA rankings, is undefeated in the professional ranks and has won all but one of her seven fights by knockout. The 29-year-old from Bogota, fighting outside her native Colombia for the first time, will now have her first chance at global fame, with her goal to dethrone Price and take the top spot in the welterweight division.
Lauren Price said: “I’m excited to defend my belts and complete what has been an crucial year for me. I have full respect for Mateusz. I will prove that I am the best in the division and I will not let anything or anyone stand in my way of being undisputed.”
BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s a massive night for the women’s welterweight division with three world champions competing. Natasha Jonas returns to her hometown for a mandatory unification fight against Ivana Habazin, and Lauren Price defends her world titles against undefeated challenger Bexcy Mateus. The fight for the undisputed continues. If Natasha and Lauren win on December 14, it will set the stage for a massive “Battle Of Britain” world title unification fight next year.
There’s reason to celebrate as BOXXER delivers a Christmas cracker to end the year. In addition to the world championship fights between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price, fight fans can expect a gala full of drama and entertainment.
Undefeated Irishman Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KO) will face English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KO) in an invigorating super welterweight fight for the silver WBC International title.
McKenna impressed fans in his three-round fight against Joe Laws last August at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. The two struck out in the first round, then McKenna began to apply the pressure, losing Laws three more times and maintaining his undefeated record after a third-round stoppage.
English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KO) returns to action from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since a career-best victory over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will be looking to shake off the ring rust as he takes on high-profile opponents in the recent year.
Undefeated Chorley super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KO) scored an explosive fifth-round knockout victory over Darren Johnston in May and will be looking to bring more drama to Liverpool’s Exhibition Center as he goes in search of his 19th professional win.
Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KO) from Cheshire, a former two-time British title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be counting on local support as he returns to the title track.
After signing a promotional contract with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can achieve his third victory in 2024, when he returns in front of his fans in Liverpool. The 23-year-old lightweight fighter is a player of the notable city team Rotunda ABC, and his manager is former world champion Liam Smith.
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