'Let's get it on': Opetaia message after brutal defence
A Jai Opetaia right hook likely broke his latest world title challenger's jaw but the Australian saved his best shot for the man he wants next after a brutal title defence.
The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion stopped the previously unbeaten Italian Claudio Squeo in the fifth round in Sunday night's Gold Coast duel.
Body shots hurt Squeo in the fourth round before a right hook landed in the fifth and put the challenger on his haunches and feeling for his probable broken jaw.
He moved to 28-0, Opetaia untroubled in what had loomed as a banana-peel clash for the Australian who has been unsuccessfully chasing bigger fights since first winning the belts three years ago.
He and manager Mick Francis will travel to the United States next to sit ringside when WBA and WBO champion Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez defends his belts later this month on the Los Angeles undercard of Jake Paul.
It's a fight Opetaia's been chasing, a fact he made crystal clear post-fight.
"I was just in a rush; I really wanted to get him out of here," he said of the gutsy rival.
"I'm chasing these unification fights and it's frustrating.
"Next fight, Zurdo Ramirez. Let's get it on.
"The fight is easy to be made ... let's do it.
"I believe I'm the best boxer in the cruiserweight division and that's all I want to prove."
Earlier, Brisbane-based Irish favourite Conor Wallace saw off French campaigner Dylan Colin with a gritty, unanimous points victory over eight rounds.
Moving to 16-1, the light heavyweight is ranked No.2 in the IBF standings and eyeing a world title shot later this year in a class headlined by Dmitry Bivol.
Max 'Money' McIntyre, still just 20, set the tone earlier in the night with his sixth consecutive stoppage to move to 8-0.
New Zealand's Ricaia Warren started strongly but the undefeated super middleweight connected with a clean combination to end the fight in the sixth round.
"Welcome to the Money show, ladies and gentleman," McIntyre said.
"I'm here for world titles, here for straps. I want to go down as the greatest of all time."
Bangkok-based Australian featherweight Tyler Blizzard beat Rocky Ogden to win the IBF's Pan Pacific belt while Danny Keating badly split Blake Minto above the left eye and won all 10 rounds in their welterweight battle.
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