Opetaia beats Squeo to retain IBF cruiserweight title
Jai Opetaia produced a fifth-round stoppage to beat Claudio Squeo and retain his IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight world titles.The Australian dominated the bout on the Gold Coast and landed a firm uppercut in the third round before connecting with some damaging combinations.Opetaia, 29, then floored Italian Squeo in the fourth round with a punishing shot to the body.Victory was delivered in the next round after a fierce right hook to the jaw forced Squeo to hunch over and take a knee as the home favourite extended his unbeaten run to 28 fights.Following the bout, Opetaia once again voiced his desire for a unification bout with Mexico's WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez."We did what we had to do," said Opetaia. "I'm chasing this unification fight and it's frustrating."Gilberto Ramirez - next fight, let's get it on. I'm chasing the belts. The fight is easy to be made. Let's do it."Meanwhile, Japan's Junto Nakatani overcame compatriot Ryosuke Nishida, who retired with an eye injury in Tokyo, to add the IBF bantamweight title to his WBC belt.Nakatani remains the number one fighter in the division after firing several punches towards the right eye of Nishida, which prompted an inspection from the ringside doctor after the sixth round.Victory for the three-weight world champion extends his unbeaten record to 31 wins, including 24 knockouts.Another Japanese rival, Naoya Inoue, was watching on from the stands and could be in line for a highly anticipated meeting with the 27-year-old next year.A bout between Nakatani and the unbeaten Inoue, who has 27 knockouts in 30 wins, would be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history.
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