Opetaia shocks in Saudi
Round 1 KO gives notice
Jai Opetaia has been hailed a future heavyweight world champion after the Australian shocked the boxing world in Saudi Arabia.
The classy southpaw had billionaire Saudi sheiks in raptures on Sunday morning after producing a savage first-round, left-hook knockout of unbeaten Englishman Ellis Zorro to steal the show on a stacked card of heavyweight superstars at Riyadh.
The punch would send shockwaves through the boxing fraternity.
Opetaia stood up on the ropes as the count was going on and raised his hands as if to say to every rival in the boxing land: “Don’t mess with me.”
The 28-year-old Aussie has truly and brutally arrived as a global boxing superstar.
Former English cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew said in DAZN commentary: “Jai Opetaia is a bad man.”
Opetaia’s trail of pugilistic destruction was advanced to a perfect 24-0 record with 19 stoppages.
It was an emotional build-up for Opetaia, who had to give up the cruiserweight world title he broke his jaw winning last year after IBF authorities refused to sanction the Zorro bout.
Opetaia pocketed about $680,000 for defying IBF bosses by taking the Zorro fight and after this performance it is inevitable that the deposed world champ would fight back to unify the cruiserweight division.
“These guys (promoters) put the people in front of me and I knock them out,” Opetaia said after hammering Zorro (17-1).
“He was very hesitant, he wasn’t engaging much.
“He was too hesitant and got clipped. That’s how it goes.
“I train for 12 rounds and if the knockout comes, it comes.”
Asked if sacrificing the world title had motivated him to bash Zorro, Opetaia said: “It did, but look at this place, it’s beautiful and I’m happy to perform in front of the Saudi people.
“This is my first knockout (in Saudi Arabia)
“The last 18 months (breaking his jaw and giving up his IBF world title) is part of the journey but I am here and in the ring. I am excited for the next step.”
In his second fight back from his broken jaw heroics on the Gold Coast in July last year, Opetaia was watchful in the opening minute against an equally unbeaten opponent.
But on 90 seconds, the Gold Coast-based slugger landed a powerful left to set the tone.
Zorro replied with a nice right shot with 20 seconds left in the round but 15 seconds later Opetaia unleashed a left hook that sent the Englishman crashing to the canvas.
Opetaia is challenging Tim Tszyu (also 24-0) as Australia’s greatest current fighter and his promoter, Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, said Opetaia could one day become the greatest fighter in the sport.
“You are talking about a pound-for-pound talent,” Hearn said. “I would like to see him unify the cruiserweight division before moving up to heavyweight.
“This is one of the most exciting fighters on the planet.”