‘Insane level': Carlos Alcaraz achieves what the greatest couldn't to win French Open
Sinner had already failed to serve out the win at 5-4 in the fourth set, thanks to some spectacular counter-attacking from Alcaraz. Now the Italian returned the favour, finding unsuspected reserves of energy as he scooted around the court like a cyborg with a new battery.
Such resilience should have put paid to any idea that Sinner is no long-distance scrapper. He would have got the job done against anyone else. But the key point about Alcaraz is that he owns a higher top level than any other player – maybe not only now but in the entire modern era.
Because of his drop shots and his variety, the Spaniard can be irresistible when he finds a groove. And after coming through the final service game of the match to level at 6-6, he did exactly that.
Some might query whether peak Alcaraz can really claim to be a more dynamic player than the legends - Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal - who came before him. But the former world No 1 Andre Agassi is certainly a believer. 'This guy has defence and speed like Novak,' said Agassi in his post-match review on TNT. 'He has feel like Federer. He has RPMs [in his topspin] like Rafa.'
Neither of these men had lost a major final before this shuddering collision, and you could see why. Writing on X, Stan Wawrinka – who also won one of the great Roland Garros finals when he defeated Djokovic in 2015 – said simply 'Insane level'.
Alcaraz had already participated in a couple of epic grand-slam finals. Until now, his most memorable win had come when he also defeated Djokovic in five sets, navigating his way through a pulsating conclusion to lift the 2023 Wimbledon title. But this was arguably even more spine-tingling.
Sinner is such a tough opponent these days that he came into this match on a sequence of 29 straight sets won at the majors, as well as two straight titles in New York and Melbourne. To outlast him in this fashion, especially when you never previously won from two sets down, was a near-impossible feat.
After the match, Alcaraz told TNT Sport: 'I think the fifth [set] was a little bit about not giving up… It was just playing with the heart and I think I did it.
'I was fighting, but honestly I didn't know what I had to do to win this match at three match points down in the fourth [set]. I just tried not to think about anything else, just go out point after point and playing with a positive mind.'
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Sinner was probably a centimetre away from the title at that stage. If you look back at footage of his missed opportunities, the first thing you notice is his mother Siglinde in the stands, speechless with emotion. The second is the high and heavy forehand that Alcaraz hits at 0-40, which lands not on the centre of the baseline but probably on its furthest edge.
Sinner manages to push that one back into play, but on his next shot, Alcaraz finds a sharp cross-court angle and the comeback is in progress. It was the starting point for an historic achievement, a feat to match anything we have seen in the modern game.
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Insanity! Was this the greatest tennis match of all?
Alex de Minaur called it "insanity", Andre Agassi shook his head in disbelief from the VIP seats and Mats Wilander felt they were playing at a "not human" level. Other luminaries simply swooned it was the best tennis match they'd ever seen. Indeed, Carlos Alcaraz's 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-2) triumph over Jannik Sinner in the longest and perhaps best of all French Open finals was so astonishing that even the Spanish champ himself was asked where it belonged in the list of the greatest contests the sport had ever witnessed. Modestly suggesting it wasn't as good as the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal Australian Open epic in 2012 - which at five hours 53 minutes was the only final to last longer than Sunday's 5:29 marathon - Alcaraz, who saved three match points before prevailing, said he was just proud it was being mentioned as one of the finest of all. "I don't know if our match is in the same table as them," he said when asked how it compared with Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer's final of 2008 and the Bjorn Borg-John McEnroe 1980 epics, both at Wimbledon. "But just happy to put our match and our names in the history of the grand slams, in the history of Roland Garros. I leave the discussion to the people..." Well, the tennis people were awed. "The level of this whole match was insanity!!!!! What a day to be a fan of this beautiful sport," enthused Australia's main man de Minaur on X as he reflected on a contest between the two men he's played a combined 14 times and not yet managed a win. This was a day to see why. Four-time grand slam champ Jim Courier, commentating on TNT Sport, echoed 'Demon's' incredulity as he said: "It's insane how good this is. Everybody's in disbelief at what they're seeing." "One of the best 5th sets ever alongside Federer vs Nadal '08 Wimbledon + Djok vs Nadal AO 2012," tweeted former US Open champ Marin Cilic. "Unbelievable level." Sergi Bruguera, Spain's two-time French Open champ, told Alcaraz it had been the best match he'd ever witnessed, a view echoed by Greg Rusedski, Britain's former US Open finalist, who declared on BBC radio: "For me, personally, this goes down as the greatest tennis match I've ever seen. "The standard was just exceptional. It's just incredible how hard these guys hit the ball." So incredible indeed that seven-time grand slam single champ John McEnroe, talking on TNT Sport, wondered if the pair might even have eclipsed the king of clay, 14-time Roland Garros champ Rafa Nadal, here. "It was an honour to witness. I've been doing this 30 years, that's one of the all-timers easily," said McEnroe. "You would make a serious argument with both guys that they would be favoured to beat Nadal, at his best. "Do I think they're gonna reach 20, 24 (titles), either one of them? No, because that plateau is so hard - but these two guys right now, it's like when you watch the NBA and you say nobody could be better than Michael Jordan. The tennis level right now is higher than I've ever seen." Three-time Australian Open champ Wilander was left marvelling: "I cannot believe how lucky we are that we are going to have this rivalry as they have taken our sport to another level. "I've seen Federer and Nadal, they played a couple of good finals but nothing comes close to this one to me. "Because the anticipation was so high, especially from my side because I witnessed their matches and I always think that this is not possible, they are playing at a pace that is not human." Alex de Minaur called it "insanity", Andre Agassi shook his head in disbelief from the VIP seats and Mats Wilander felt they were playing at a "not human" level. Other luminaries simply swooned it was the best tennis match they'd ever seen. Indeed, Carlos Alcaraz's 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-2) triumph over Jannik Sinner in the longest and perhaps best of all French Open finals was so astonishing that even the Spanish champ himself was asked where it belonged in the list of the greatest contests the sport had ever witnessed. Modestly suggesting it wasn't as good as the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal Australian Open epic in 2012 - which at five hours 53 minutes was the only final to last longer than Sunday's 5:29 marathon - Alcaraz, who saved three match points before prevailing, said he was just proud it was being mentioned as one of the finest of all. "I don't know if our match is in the same table as them," he said when asked how it compared with Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer's final of 2008 and the Bjorn Borg-John McEnroe 1980 epics, both at Wimbledon. "But just happy to put our match and our names in the history of the grand slams, in the history of Roland Garros. I leave the discussion to the people..." Well, the tennis people were awed. "The level of this whole match was insanity!!!!! What a day to be a fan of this beautiful sport," enthused Australia's main man de Minaur on X as he reflected on a contest between the two men he's played a combined 14 times and not yet managed a win. This was a day to see why. Four-time grand slam champ Jim Courier, commentating on TNT Sport, echoed 'Demon's' incredulity as he said: "It's insane how good this is. Everybody's in disbelief at what they're seeing." "One of the best 5th sets ever alongside Federer vs Nadal '08 Wimbledon + Djok vs Nadal AO 2012," tweeted former US Open champ Marin Cilic. "Unbelievable level." Sergi Bruguera, Spain's two-time French Open champ, told Alcaraz it had been the best match he'd ever witnessed, a view echoed by Greg Rusedski, Britain's former US Open finalist, who declared on BBC radio: "For me, personally, this goes down as the greatest tennis match I've ever seen. "The standard was just exceptional. It's just incredible how hard these guys hit the ball." So incredible indeed that seven-time grand slam single champ John McEnroe, talking on TNT Sport, wondered if the pair might even have eclipsed the king of clay, 14-time Roland Garros champ Rafa Nadal, here. "It was an honour to witness. I've been doing this 30 years, that's one of the all-timers easily," said McEnroe. "You would make a serious argument with both guys that they would be favoured to beat Nadal, at his best. "Do I think they're gonna reach 20, 24 (titles), either one of them? No, because that plateau is so hard - but these two guys right now, it's like when you watch the NBA and you say nobody could be better than Michael Jordan. The tennis level right now is higher than I've ever seen." Three-time Australian Open champ Wilander was left marvelling: "I cannot believe how lucky we are that we are going to have this rivalry as they have taken our sport to another level. "I've seen Federer and Nadal, they played a couple of good finals but nothing comes close to this one to me. "Because the anticipation was so high, especially from my side because I witnessed their matches and I always think that this is not possible, they are playing at a pace that is not human." Alex de Minaur called it "insanity", Andre Agassi shook his head in disbelief from the VIP seats and Mats Wilander felt they were playing at a "not human" level. Other luminaries simply swooned it was the best tennis match they'd ever seen. Indeed, Carlos Alcaraz's 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-2) triumph over Jannik Sinner in the longest and perhaps best of all French Open finals was so astonishing that even the Spanish champ himself was asked where it belonged in the list of the greatest contests the sport had ever witnessed. Modestly suggesting it wasn't as good as the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal Australian Open epic in 2012 - which at five hours 53 minutes was the only final to last longer than Sunday's 5:29 marathon - Alcaraz, who saved three match points before prevailing, said he was just proud it was being mentioned as one of the finest of all. "I don't know if our match is in the same table as them," he said when asked how it compared with Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer's final of 2008 and the Bjorn Borg-John McEnroe 1980 epics, both at Wimbledon. "But just happy to put our match and our names in the history of the grand slams, in the history of Roland Garros. I leave the discussion to the people..." Well, the tennis people were awed. "The level of this whole match was insanity!!!!! What a day to be a fan of this beautiful sport," enthused Australia's main man de Minaur on X as he reflected on a contest between the two men he's played a combined 14 times and not yet managed a win. This was a day to see why. Four-time grand slam champ Jim Courier, commentating on TNT Sport, echoed 'Demon's' incredulity as he said: "It's insane how good this is. Everybody's in disbelief at what they're seeing." "One of the best 5th sets ever alongside Federer vs Nadal '08 Wimbledon + Djok vs Nadal AO 2012," tweeted former US Open champ Marin Cilic. "Unbelievable level." Sergi Bruguera, Spain's two-time French Open champ, told Alcaraz it had been the best match he'd ever witnessed, a view echoed by Greg Rusedski, Britain's former US Open finalist, who declared on BBC radio: "For me, personally, this goes down as the greatest tennis match I've ever seen. "The standard was just exceptional. It's just incredible how hard these guys hit the ball." So incredible indeed that seven-time grand slam single champ John McEnroe, talking on TNT Sport, wondered if the pair might even have eclipsed the king of clay, 14-time Roland Garros champ Rafa Nadal, here. "It was an honour to witness. I've been doing this 30 years, that's one of the all-timers easily," said McEnroe. "You would make a serious argument with both guys that they would be favoured to beat Nadal, at his best. "Do I think they're gonna reach 20, 24 (titles), either one of them? No, because that plateau is so hard - but these two guys right now, it's like when you watch the NBA and you say nobody could be better than Michael Jordan. The tennis level right now is higher than I've ever seen." Three-time Australian Open champ Wilander was left marvelling: "I cannot believe how lucky we are that we are going to have this rivalry as they have taken our sport to another level. "I've seen Federer and Nadal, they played a couple of good finals but nothing comes close to this one to me. "Because the anticipation was so high, especially from my side because I witnessed their matches and I always think that this is not possible, they are playing at a pace that is not human." Alex de Minaur called it "insanity", Andre Agassi shook his head in disbelief from the VIP seats and Mats Wilander felt they were playing at a "not human" level. Other luminaries simply swooned it was the best tennis match they'd ever seen. Indeed, Carlos Alcaraz's 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-2) triumph over Jannik Sinner in the longest and perhaps best of all French Open finals was so astonishing that even the Spanish champ himself was asked where it belonged in the list of the greatest contests the sport had ever witnessed. Modestly suggesting it wasn't as good as the Novak Djokovic-Rafael Nadal Australian Open epic in 2012 - which at five hours 53 minutes was the only final to last longer than Sunday's 5:29 marathon - Alcaraz, who saved three match points before prevailing, said he was just proud it was being mentioned as one of the finest of all. "I don't know if our match is in the same table as them," he said when asked how it compared with Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer's final of 2008 and the Bjorn Borg-John McEnroe 1980 epics, both at Wimbledon. "But just happy to put our match and our names in the history of the grand slams, in the history of Roland Garros. I leave the discussion to the people..." Well, the tennis people were awed. "The level of this whole match was insanity!!!!! What a day to be a fan of this beautiful sport," enthused Australia's main man de Minaur on X as he reflected on a contest between the two men he's played a combined 14 times and not yet managed a win. This was a day to see why. Four-time grand slam champ Jim Courier, commentating on TNT Sport, echoed 'Demon's' incredulity as he said: "It's insane how good this is. Everybody's in disbelief at what they're seeing." "One of the best 5th sets ever alongside Federer vs Nadal '08 Wimbledon + Djok vs Nadal AO 2012," tweeted former US Open champ Marin Cilic. "Unbelievable level." Sergi Bruguera, Spain's two-time French Open champ, told Alcaraz it had been the best match he'd ever witnessed, a view echoed by Greg Rusedski, Britain's former US Open finalist, who declared on BBC radio: "For me, personally, this goes down as the greatest tennis match I've ever seen. "The standard was just exceptional. It's just incredible how hard these guys hit the ball." So incredible indeed that seven-time grand slam single champ John McEnroe, talking on TNT Sport, wondered if the pair might even have eclipsed the king of clay, 14-time Roland Garros champ Rafa Nadal, here. "It was an honour to witness. I've been doing this 30 years, that's one of the all-timers easily," said McEnroe. "You would make a serious argument with both guys that they would be favoured to beat Nadal, at his best. "Do I think they're gonna reach 20, 24 (titles), either one of them? No, because that plateau is so hard - but these two guys right now, it's like when you watch the NBA and you say nobody could be better than Michael Jordan. The tennis level right now is higher than I've ever seen." Three-time Australian Open champ Wilander was left marvelling: "I cannot believe how lucky we are that we are going to have this rivalry as they have taken our sport to another level. "I've seen Federer and Nadal, they played a couple of good finals but nothing comes close to this one to me. "Because the anticipation was so high, especially from my side because I witnessed their matches and I always think that this is not possible, they are playing at a pace that is not human."
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Once we do that': idling Opetaia's boxing promise
An idling Jai Opetaia predicts an overdue date with another world champion will push him to greater heights as the Australian pound-for-pound king takes the unification quest into his own hands. The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion barely left first gear in his title defence on Sunday night, but still broke the jaw of Claudio Squeo to earn a clinical fifth-round stoppage. Almost three years ago Opetaia had his own jaw broken twice in the same Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre venue by Mairis Briedis, but fought through the pain to upset the Latvian and claim his belts. Opetaia is hunting all five belts in the division before a move up to bridgerweight or heavyweight. He'll travel with manager Mick Francis to the United States and sit ringside when Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez defends his WBC and WBO titles against Yuniel Dorticos later this month. An Opetaia-Ramirez, four-belt unification blockbuster could happen on the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez Las Vegas card in September or in Saudi Arabia a month later. Manager Mick Francis has also petitioned the Queensland government to back a Suncorp Stadium super-fight, adamant his man can fill it eight years after Jeff Horn shocked Manny Pacquiao at the heaving Brisbane venue. Badou Jack is the other cruiserweight world champion, currently holding the WBC strap. "I'm not chasing Zurdo specifically; I'm chasing the belts and if he loses his belts in this fight, I'm chasing that guy," Opetaia said after moving to 28-0. Kostya Tszyu became undisputed light-welterweight champion in 2001 while George Kambosos Jnr held four of five lightweight belts when he stunned Teofimo Lopez 20 years later. "Undisputed is the top, there's no better. And once we do that ... there's another two categories to win world titles," Opetaia said of his grand plans. "A three-division world champion sounds good to me. Maybe even a super-fight with (light heavyweight champion) Bivol. There's so many exciting fights to make. "But everything is all talk, unless we keep winning." Opetaia, barring a warring defeat of Briedis in last year's rematch, has done that mercilessly since first becoming world champion. "Once I get another belt around my waist it's going to be a whole new chapter," he predicted. "Squeo coming out here (and losing), is proving what I already know. "Everyone's always bad-mouthing ... my opposition. Just because I beat them the way I beat them, I'm always getting it. "When I get my hands on one (world champion) and put on that clinic, everyone is going to go, 'F***, this kid is good'." Squeo gave away large height and weight advantages to Opetaia but, at 17-0 and boasting knockout power, remained a threat. That was until Opetaia worked over the Italian's body in the fourth round and then connected with a sweet right hook when Squeo was boxed into a corner in the fifth round. "I heard the punch break his jaw and was like, "F***, you poor bastard'," he said. "I know how that feels, being here and getting your jaw broken." Opetaia will sit ringside in California when two-division world champion Ramirez features on the Jake Paul undercard on June 28. "When I see him I'll probably shake his hand, introduce myself," Opetaia said. "I'm not here to talk shit ... I'm chasing greatness, which I think all world champions should be." An idling Jai Opetaia predicts an overdue date with another world champion will push him to greater heights as the Australian pound-for-pound king takes the unification quest into his own hands. The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion barely left first gear in his title defence on Sunday night, but still broke the jaw of Claudio Squeo to earn a clinical fifth-round stoppage. Almost three years ago Opetaia had his own jaw broken twice in the same Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre venue by Mairis Briedis, but fought through the pain to upset the Latvian and claim his belts. Opetaia is hunting all five belts in the division before a move up to bridgerweight or heavyweight. He'll travel with manager Mick Francis to the United States and sit ringside when Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez defends his WBC and WBO titles against Yuniel Dorticos later this month. An Opetaia-Ramirez, four-belt unification blockbuster could happen on the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez Las Vegas card in September or in Saudi Arabia a month later. Manager Mick Francis has also petitioned the Queensland government to back a Suncorp Stadium super-fight, adamant his man can fill it eight years after Jeff Horn shocked Manny Pacquiao at the heaving Brisbane venue. Badou Jack is the other cruiserweight world champion, currently holding the WBC strap. "I'm not chasing Zurdo specifically; I'm chasing the belts and if he loses his belts in this fight, I'm chasing that guy," Opetaia said after moving to 28-0. Kostya Tszyu became undisputed light-welterweight champion in 2001 while George Kambosos Jnr held four of five lightweight belts when he stunned Teofimo Lopez 20 years later. "Undisputed is the top, there's no better. And once we do that ... there's another two categories to win world titles," Opetaia said of his grand plans. "A three-division world champion sounds good to me. Maybe even a super-fight with (light heavyweight champion) Bivol. There's so many exciting fights to make. "But everything is all talk, unless we keep winning." Opetaia, barring a warring defeat of Briedis in last year's rematch, has done that mercilessly since first becoming world champion. "Once I get another belt around my waist it's going to be a whole new chapter," he predicted. "Squeo coming out here (and losing), is proving what I already know. "Everyone's always bad-mouthing ... my opposition. Just because I beat them the way I beat them, I'm always getting it. "When I get my hands on one (world champion) and put on that clinic, everyone is going to go, 'F***, this kid is good'." Squeo gave away large height and weight advantages to Opetaia but, at 17-0 and boasting knockout power, remained a threat. That was until Opetaia worked over the Italian's body in the fourth round and then connected with a sweet right hook when Squeo was boxed into a corner in the fifth round. "I heard the punch break his jaw and was like, "F***, you poor bastard'," he said. "I know how that feels, being here and getting your jaw broken." Opetaia will sit ringside in California when two-division world champion Ramirez features on the Jake Paul undercard on June 28. "When I see him I'll probably shake his hand, introduce myself," Opetaia said. "I'm not here to talk shit ... I'm chasing greatness, which I think all world champions should be." An idling Jai Opetaia predicts an overdue date with another world champion will push him to greater heights as the Australian pound-for-pound king takes the unification quest into his own hands. The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion barely left first gear in his title defence on Sunday night, but still broke the jaw of Claudio Squeo to earn a clinical fifth-round stoppage. Almost three years ago Opetaia had his own jaw broken twice in the same Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre venue by Mairis Briedis, but fought through the pain to upset the Latvian and claim his belts. Opetaia is hunting all five belts in the division before a move up to bridgerweight or heavyweight. He'll travel with manager Mick Francis to the United States and sit ringside when Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez defends his WBC and WBO titles against Yuniel Dorticos later this month. An Opetaia-Ramirez, four-belt unification blockbuster could happen on the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez Las Vegas card in September or in Saudi Arabia a month later. Manager Mick Francis has also petitioned the Queensland government to back a Suncorp Stadium super-fight, adamant his man can fill it eight years after Jeff Horn shocked Manny Pacquiao at the heaving Brisbane venue. Badou Jack is the other cruiserweight world champion, currently holding the WBC strap. "I'm not chasing Zurdo specifically; I'm chasing the belts and if he loses his belts in this fight, I'm chasing that guy," Opetaia said after moving to 28-0. Kostya Tszyu became undisputed light-welterweight champion in 2001 while George Kambosos Jnr held four of five lightweight belts when he stunned Teofimo Lopez 20 years later. "Undisputed is the top, there's no better. And once we do that ... there's another two categories to win world titles," Opetaia said of his grand plans. "A three-division world champion sounds good to me. Maybe even a super-fight with (light heavyweight champion) Bivol. There's so many exciting fights to make. "But everything is all talk, unless we keep winning." Opetaia, barring a warring defeat of Briedis in last year's rematch, has done that mercilessly since first becoming world champion. "Once I get another belt around my waist it's going to be a whole new chapter," he predicted. "Squeo coming out here (and losing), is proving what I already know. "Everyone's always bad-mouthing ... my opposition. Just because I beat them the way I beat them, I'm always getting it. "When I get my hands on one (world champion) and put on that clinic, everyone is going to go, 'F***, this kid is good'." Squeo gave away large height and weight advantages to Opetaia but, at 17-0 and boasting knockout power, remained a threat. That was until Opetaia worked over the Italian's body in the fourth round and then connected with a sweet right hook when Squeo was boxed into a corner in the fifth round. "I heard the punch break his jaw and was like, "F***, you poor bastard'," he said. "I know how that feels, being here and getting your jaw broken." Opetaia will sit ringside in California when two-division world champion Ramirez features on the Jake Paul undercard on June 28. "When I see him I'll probably shake his hand, introduce myself," Opetaia said. "I'm not here to talk shit ... I'm chasing greatness, which I think all world champions should be."
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
'Once we do that': idling Opetaia's boxing promise
An idling Jai Opetaia predicts an overdue date with another world champion will push him to greater heights as the Australian pound-for-pound king takes the unification quest into his own hands. The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion barely left first gear in his title defence on Sunday night, but still broke the jaw of Claudio Squeo to earn a clinical fifth-round stoppage. Almost three years ago Opetaia had his own jaw broken twice in the same Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre venue by Mairis Briedis, but fought through the pain to upset the Latvian and claim his belts. Opetaia is hunting all five belts in the division before a move up to bridgerweight or heavyweight. He'll travel with manager Mick Francis to the United States and sit ringside when Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez defends his WBC and WBO titles against Yuniel Dorticos later this month. An Opetaia-Ramirez, four-belt unification blockbuster could happen on the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez Las Vegas card in September or in Saudi Arabia a month later. Manager Mick Francis has also petitioned the Queensland government to back a Suncorp Stadium super-fight, adamant his man can fill it eight years after Jeff Horn shocked Manny Pacquiao at the heaving Brisbane venue. Badou Jack is the other cruiserweight world champion, currently holding the WBC strap. "I'm not chasing Zurdo specifically; I'm chasing the belts and if he loses his belts in this fight, I'm chasing that guy," Opetaia said after moving to 28-0. Kostya Tszyu became undisputed light-welterweight champion in 2001 while George Kambosos Jnr held four of five lightweight belts when he stunned Teofimo Lopez 20 years later. "Undisputed is the top, there's no better. And once we do that ... there's another two categories to win world titles," Opetaia said of his grand plans. "A three-division world champion sounds good to me. Maybe even a super-fight with (light heavyweight champion) Bivol. There's so many exciting fights to make. "But everything is all talk, unless we keep winning." Opetaia, barring a warring defeat of Briedis in last year's rematch, has done that mercilessly since first becoming world champion. "Once I get another belt around my waist it's going to be a whole new chapter," he predicted. "Squeo coming out here (and losing), is proving what I already know. "Everyone's always bad-mouthing ... my opposition. Just because I beat them the way I beat them, I'm always getting it. "When I get my hands on one (world champion) and put on that clinic, everyone is going to go, 'F***, this kid is good'." Squeo gave away large height and weight advantages to Opetaia but, at 17-0 and boasting knockout power, remained a threat. That was until Opetaia worked over the Italian's body in the fourth round and then connected with a sweet right hook when Squeo was boxed into a corner in the fifth round. "I heard the punch break his jaw and was like, "F***, you poor bastard'," he said. "I know how that feels, being here and getting your jaw broken." Opetaia will sit ringside in California when two-division world champion Ramirez features on the Jake Paul undercard on June 28. "When I see him I'll probably shake his hand, introduce myself," Opetaia said. "I'm not here to talk shit ... I'm chasing greatness, which I think all world champions should be."
