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Eddie Hearn says IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia will potentially challenge Oleksandr Usyk for his world heavyweight titles in “12 to 18 months” with the help of “money from” Turki Al-Shiekh.
Hearn revealed that the plan is to increase Opetaia’s “credibility” by making him the undisputed cruiserweight champion by first taking the WBA, WBC and WBO belts from Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Badou Jack. Once Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) does that, he will move up to heavyweight to challenge Usyk for his belts unless he retires or someone beats him first.
Skipping the line?
There’s something awkward about Opetaia getting a title shot in his first heavyweight fight without at least fighting a title eliminator or one of the top contenders waiting to compete for a world title. When a fighter gets a direct shot at a title without having competed in a division before, boxing seems less like a real sport and more like popularity and money.
As good as Opetaia looked Wednesday night, knocking out David Nyika (10-1, 9 KOs) in the fourth round at the Gold Coast Convention Center, Broadbeach, in Queensland, Australia, it’s hard to imagine him defeating heavyweight contenders like Martin Bakole.
18-month plan
“Jai is going to collect all the cruiserweight belts to become undisputed and then we want to push him to fight Oleksandr Usyk at heavyweight to try to become undisputed as well,” Eddie Hearn told DAZNtalking about wanting Jai Opetaia to pick up all the cruiserweight titles and then move up to heavyweight to do the same there.
“I believe he is the only person at cruiserweight or heavyweight that can truly give Oleksandr Usyk a real, real fight, but to do that we have to pick up every cruiserweight belt first to give him credibility and money from his excellency. force Oleksandr Usyk into the ring.
“Believe me, in 12 to 18 months, Jai Opetaia vs. Oleksandr Usyk is an all-time classic,” Hearn said.
Opetaia could be undone when he meets WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs). It’s a big step up from Nyika and the faded Mairis Briedis. He could lose to Zurd, which would spoil Hearn’s vision of facing Usyk.
In Usyk’s case. He could retire soon or be beaten by IBF champion Daniel Dubois. Usyk won’t wait for Opetaia to pick up all the cruiserweight belts before fighting again. He will remain active, and one of the obvious fights that could happen is a rematch with Dubois.
Oleksandr was lucky not to get knocked out in their fight on August 26, 2023. He landed with what looked like a proper punch, but the referee ruled it was a low blow. Replays showed that it was on the belt line. Dubois will focus on Usyk’s body in the rematch, knowing that is where he is weak.
