Boxing great's advice in 'threat' Opetaia's title chase

Terence Crawford has backed Jai Opetaia to punch through the boxing red tape that's so-far robbed him of world title unification in a superstar endorsement ahead of his latest defence.
The Australian cruiserweight sensation (27-0) will defend his IBF and The Ring belts on the Gold Coast on Sunday against Claudio Squeo (17-0).
In what's been dubbed a stay-busy fight, the unbeaten Italian is the latest man in the way of Opetaia's quest for unification that's stretched nearly three years since he sensationally first won the belts.
The 29-year-old has long sought a duel with Mexican superstar Gilberto Ramirez, the two-division champion who currently holds the WBA and WBO belts.
Optimism is building that the pair will clash later this year, potentially on the Crawford-Canelo Alvarez undercard in September in Las Vegas.
The American will attempt to make history against Alvarez, stepping up to super middleweight in an attempt to become a five-weight world champion and boxing's first three-weight undisputed champion.
Well versed in boxing politics, the 37-year-old has feuded with and sued former Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum and is now among the most influential figures in the sport.
"When you're at the top and a threat, those big names avoid you," Crawford told AAP after spending time in Opetaia's camp ahead of Sunday's fight.
"I tell him to keep his head up, keep working hard and don't give up. Keep trying to unify and keep being yourself.
"Everybody knows he's tough and he can punch and he can fight.
"A lot of people don't want to take the chance of getting in there with him and taking a loss.
"But his name isn't as internationally big as other fighters, so they'd rather go another route to bigger-money fights."
Ramirez will fight a mandatory defence later this month on a card headlined by Youtuber-turned boxer Jake Paul, who wants to fight the Mexican as he chases a genuine world title of his own.
Ramirez insists he isn't dodging Opetaia but Opetaia's manager Mick Francis is wary.
"I truly hope Jai gets this shot as he's been promised three times before but that (fighting on Paul's card) worries me," he told AAP.
Francis, a former rugby league player who runs Tasman Fighters, has been in the United Kingdom ahead of Justis Huni's interim world title fight that will be decided hours before Opetaia steps into the ring.
He will likely also travel to the United States after this weekend's fight to seek out assurances with Ramirez's camp.
The time-zone difference to the US means the fight is untenable in Australia without government support.
Francis is hopeful promoter Eddie Hearn, Saudi billionaire Turki Al-Sheikh, who has backed Opetaia on recent Riyadh Season cards, and Ramirez's US-based Golden Boy Promotions - run by Oscar De La Hoya - can come to terms.
"I'll rally the troops. Jai's already said he'll sacrifice half his purse to make this fight," he said.
"For this one it's not about the money, it's about the belts and leaving a legacy.
"It doesn't matter where it is; he'll fight him on the moon if he has to."

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Ebden and Peers edged out in Paris thriller

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Ebden and Peers edged out in Paris thriller

Veteran Australian doubles duo Matt Ebden and John Peers' hopes of repeating their Paris triumph in last year's Olympic Games on the clay of Roland Garros have hit the buffers in a titanic quarter-final against Brits Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski. Last August, the Aussies clinched gold on Court Philippe Chatrier and in February, after a Davis Cup tie, they decided to team up on tour in search of more men's doubles glory. On Tuesday, on a breezy Court Simonne-Mathieu at the French Open, Ebden and Peers looked on course for the semis when they won a marathon first set 7-4 on a tiebreaker - just reward for the pressure they had exerted when the No.8 seeds were serving. But Peers twice had treatment for his heavily-strapped right elbow and Ebden's serve was broken late in the second and early in the third sets as Salisbury and Skupski hit back to win 6-7 (7-4) 6-4 6-4. It was a gutsy effort by Peers, 36, and Ebden, 37, who live near each other in Perth and were seeded No.15 at Roland Garros. Having trailed 4-1 in the decider, they broke Skupski for 4-2 and Peers showed no ill effects from his sore arm to hold serve confidently for 3-4. Another shift in momentum looked on the cards but the Brits had just enough of a lead to get them over the line three games later, in 2 hours 35 minutes, as Skupski held serve to love. The British pair will next face the US pair Christian Harrison and Evan King, who beat No.2 seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten. Veteran Australian doubles duo Matt Ebden and John Peers' hopes of repeating their Paris triumph in last year's Olympic Games on the clay of Roland Garros have hit the buffers in a titanic quarter-final against Brits Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski. Last August, the Aussies clinched gold on Court Philippe Chatrier and in February, after a Davis Cup tie, they decided to team up on tour in search of more men's doubles glory. On Tuesday, on a breezy Court Simonne-Mathieu at the French Open, Ebden and Peers looked on course for the semis when they won a marathon first set 7-4 on a tiebreaker - just reward for the pressure they had exerted when the No.8 seeds were serving. But Peers twice had treatment for his heavily-strapped right elbow and Ebden's serve was broken late in the second and early in the third sets as Salisbury and Skupski hit back to win 6-7 (7-4) 6-4 6-4. It was a gutsy effort by Peers, 36, and Ebden, 37, who live near each other in Perth and were seeded No.15 at Roland Garros. Having trailed 4-1 in the decider, they broke Skupski for 4-2 and Peers showed no ill effects from his sore arm to hold serve confidently for 3-4. Another shift in momentum looked on the cards but the Brits had just enough of a lead to get them over the line three games later, in 2 hours 35 minutes, as Skupski held serve to love. The British pair will next face the US pair Christian Harrison and Evan King, who beat No.2 seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten. Veteran Australian doubles duo Matt Ebden and John Peers' hopes of repeating their Paris triumph in last year's Olympic Games on the clay of Roland Garros have hit the buffers in a titanic quarter-final against Brits Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski. Last August, the Aussies clinched gold on Court Philippe Chatrier and in February, after a Davis Cup tie, they decided to team up on tour in search of more men's doubles glory. On Tuesday, on a breezy Court Simonne-Mathieu at the French Open, Ebden and Peers looked on course for the semis when they won a marathon first set 7-4 on a tiebreaker - just reward for the pressure they had exerted when the No.8 seeds were serving. But Peers twice had treatment for his heavily-strapped right elbow and Ebden's serve was broken late in the second and early in the third sets as Salisbury and Skupski hit back to win 6-7 (7-4) 6-4 6-4. It was a gutsy effort by Peers, 36, and Ebden, 37, who live near each other in Perth and were seeded No.15 at Roland Garros. Having trailed 4-1 in the decider, they broke Skupski for 4-2 and Peers showed no ill effects from his sore arm to hold serve confidently for 3-4. Another shift in momentum looked on the cards but the Brits had just enough of a lead to get them over the line three games later, in 2 hours 35 minutes, as Skupski held serve to love. The British pair will next face the US pair Christian Harrison and Evan King, who beat No.2 seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten. Veteran Australian doubles duo Matt Ebden and John Peers' hopes of repeating their Paris triumph in last year's Olympic Games on the clay of Roland Garros have hit the buffers in a titanic quarter-final against Brits Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski. Last August, the Aussies clinched gold on Court Philippe Chatrier and in February, after a Davis Cup tie, they decided to team up on tour in search of more men's doubles glory. On Tuesday, on a breezy Court Simonne-Mathieu at the French Open, Ebden and Peers looked on course for the semis when they won a marathon first set 7-4 on a tiebreaker - just reward for the pressure they had exerted when the No.8 seeds were serving. But Peers twice had treatment for his heavily-strapped right elbow and Ebden's serve was broken late in the second and early in the third sets as Salisbury and Skupski hit back to win 6-7 (7-4) 6-4 6-4. It was a gutsy effort by Peers, 36, and Ebden, 37, who live near each other in Perth and were seeded No.15 at Roland Garros. Having trailed 4-1 in the decider, they broke Skupski for 4-2 and Peers showed no ill effects from his sore arm to hold serve confidently for 3-4. Another shift in momentum looked on the cards but the Brits had just enough of a lead to get them over the line three games later, in 2 hours 35 minutes, as Skupski held serve to love. The British pair will next face the US pair Christian Harrison and Evan King, who beat No.2 seeds Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten.