Jai Opetaia needs to be a three-division world champion: ‘I’d like to battle Oleksandr Usyk someday’ | Boxing Information

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Jai Opetaia is the IBF cruiserweight world champion and broadly considered the perfect fighter within the division.

On October 12, reside on Sky Sports activities Field Workplace, he places his title on the road in opposition to European champion Jack Massey, who earned this shot with a sterling victory over Isaac Chamberlain.

Opetaia’s ambitions additionally prolong additional. He needs to wins all 4 of the foremost belts at cruiserweight earlier than progressing onwards.

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IBF cruiserweight champion Opetaia defeated Mairis Briedis in his final battle

“We want to be the undisputed cruiserweight champion,” Opetaia instructed Sky Sports activities. “We want to collect the belts and then we want to move up and collect more belts either the bridgerweight or the heavyweight.

“A 3-division world champion sounds good.”

He insisted: “I am the best cruiserweight in the world.”

However added: “It’s easy to say that stuff. I’ve just got to keep proving it. I’ve got to prove it again on the 12th and prove it my next fight and keep collecting these belts.”

Full October 12 Sky Sports activities Field Workplace card

  • Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
  • Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke II
  • Jai Opetaia vs Jack Massey
  • Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamil Szeremeta
  • Skye Nicolson vs Raven Chapman
  • Ben Whittaker vs Liam Cameron

The Australian has been within the ring, albeit in sparring, with high heavyweights. Then WBC heavyweight titlist Tyson Fury used him forward of his battle in opposition to Oleksandr Usyk

“You’re rubbing shoulders with greatness,” Opetaia stated. “Being there you learn a lot and it’s just all positive. We just keep levelling up everywhere we go.

“I’ve combined it up with numerous massive boys. I do know I can combine it up there with them.”

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It didn’t take lengthy for the rivalry between Frazer Clarke and Fabio Wardley to reignite on the press convention for the massive October 12 present

Ukraine’s Usyk, who has gone undisputed at each cruiserweight and heavyweight and stays the unified WBO, WBA and WBC champion, is Opetaia’s final goal.

“I would love to fight Usyk one day. It’s a fight that I’ll definitely be chasing. I’ve been around Usyk for a long time. We were both at the same Olympic Games [in 2012]. I was only young,” he stated.

“I’ve at all times been shut. I’ve at all times been within the shadows. I really feel like my alternative’s getting nearer and nearer to being in there in opposition to him.

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Rulers of the light-heavyweight division Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol went head-to-head on the London press convention for his or her October 12 battle, reside on Sky Sports activities Field Workplace

“The goal’s never changed. We’ve been doing the same thing ever since I was a little kid. Train, eat, sleep on repeat.

“It is simple to say [stuff]. I am making an attempt to reside it. I am making an attempt to coach arduous every single day and simply battle and put together and do what I’ve received to do to show it.”

Watch Opetaia-Massey on the blockbuster Wardley-Clarke II and Beterbiev-Bivol Sky Sports activities Field Workplace invoice on Saturday October 12

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