Latest news with #GilbertoRamirez
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
The brutal message from rising Australian boxing star Jai Opetaia after shattering opponent's jaw: 'I was in a rush'
Rising Aussie fighter Jai Opetaia has revealed the savage reason why he dealt with his latest fashion in a swift and brutal fashion before calling out Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramírez. Opetaia delivered another commanding performance on the Gold Coast, defending his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles. The Australian champion stopped unbeaten Italian challenger Claudio Squeo in the fifth round with a thunderous right hook. Moments after the fight, news broke that Squeo had likely suffered a broken jaw. 'It was a matter of time,' commentator Ben Damon said as the referee waved the bout off. Opetaia later told the crowd why he dispatched his latest challenger in such efficient - and savage - style. All too easy for Jai Opetaia #OpetaiaSqueo — Ben Damon (@ben_damon) June 8, 2025 Claudio Squeo entered the ring undefeated but was overwhelmed by Opetaia's reach, power and relentless forward pressure 'I was just in a rush, I just really wanted to get him out of here,' he said. It was a chillingly honest remark from a fighter who has become known for both his patience and ferocity. The fight began cautiously, with Opetaia feeling out his opponent in the opening round. By the second, he had found his rhythm, landing clean blows and showing off his footwork. 'The intensity has dialled right up,' Damon said during the third as Squeo began to retreat. Cracks appeared in the Italian's defence as Opetaia pushed forward with increasing pressure. In the fourth, the crowd erupted in boos after a controversial crumpled from a crushing body shot, but the referee ruled Opetaia had held him. Replays showed the punch landed cleanly in the chest, not low as Squeo had signalled. It didn't matter. In the fifth, Opetaia closed the show. He marched forward and crushed Squeo's jaw with a brutal right hook. Squeo dropped to his knees, grabbed his face and couldn't continue. 'He knew it was hurt straight away,' said Ted Cofie in commentary. Opetaia, who broke his own jaw in the same ring in 2022 against Mairis Briedis, showed no sympathy. Instead, he turned his attention to unification. 'I'm chasing these unification fights. I'm chasing these world champions,' Opetaia said. That means WBO and WBA titleholder Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramírez is now firmly in his sights. Ramírez is set to face Yuniel Dorticos on June 28, with Opetaia planning to be ringside. 'Next fight is Zurdo Ramírez,' Opetaia said. 'He's mentioned me, he's told me he'll fight me next … so let's get it on.' The 29-year-old then stared down the broadcast camera and repeated his challenge: 'Let's get it on.' Opetaia's win moved his record to a perfect 28-0, with many of those victories ending in highlight-reel knockouts. Despite being one of the world's most dangerous punchers, his technical skill often goes unnoticed. His height, reach, and power were too much for the Italian, who entered undefeated with a 17-0 record. Opetaia thanked the packed crowd and gave a special shoutout to fans from Australia and the Pacific Islands. 'We did what we have to do. We've got a lot more to go,' he said.
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Do it in a heartbeat': Jai Opetaia's promoter wants seven-figure Suncorp Stadium super-card
Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium could host a seven-figure boxing supercard, with promoter Mick Francis saying he will push the Queensland government for funding to stage a world title unification blockbuster between Jai Opetaia and Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez. Opetaia is Australia's pound-for-pound best boxer and defended his IBF cruiserweight world title in devastating fashion against Italian challenger Claudio Squeo on Sunday night. While Squeo was being stretchered out of the arena, with a broken jaw, Opetaia doubled down on his call for a unification bout with Mexico's Ramirez. Francis says an Opetaia-Ramirez showdown could be held at Suncorp Stadium, but needs the Queensland state government to back it. 'If we had government support, we could make it happen,' Francis told CODE Sports. 'This fight has been building for a while, and it's a stadium fight, but the State government has to get behind it. 'We had some guys here tonight from Experience Gold Coast, and they brought a couple of State dignitaries along. 'If they want to make it happen, they'll make it happen. 'I would suggest to put a major event on at Suncorp, you'd need $9 million or $10 million from the State government. But they'd get it back ten-fold. 'If you put it on at the right time of year, it'll definitely sell out.' Jeff Horn staged two fights at Suncorp Stadium, including his heroic world title win over Manny Pacquiao in 2017. He then fought Anthony Mundine at the venue a year later. Francis said it would take some serious buy-in from the Queensland government and other promoters in Australia, but argued it could be done. 'We've done it before with Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Horn, so I don't see why we couldn't do it again,' he said. 'And boxing's bigger now than it was back then. 'Imagine No Limit, Matchroom Boxing, Spencer Brown, Tasman Fighters, Riyadh Season, Main Event, Foxtel, and DAZN. 'If we all work together, guess what? We can do massive shows, massive events and highlight Australian boxing. 'We just need to get off our asses and make it work. 'We'd love to do that. Jai would love to fight on the same card as Tim Tszyu. 'But we need to work with other promoters and join forces. 'If we went to the State government and said we want to put Jai Opetaia, Tim Tszyu, Justis Huni, Conor Wallace and George Kambosos on, we would get the funding. 'Every one of those fighters has a big name, and they're all good guys. Tim's a great guy, we can put Nikita on too. 'Make it a 10-fight supercard. We'd do that in a heartbeat.' Opetaia lives on the Gold Coast, and has headlined three cards on the Glitter Strip. And while he loves the idea of a stadium fight, he says his preference is still in his hometown. 'Central Coast Stadium – Gosford – that's what I'm chasing, bro,' Opetaia told CODE Sports in the dressing rooms after knocking out Squeo with a brutal right hook. 'I've been chasing Central Coast Stadium since I was a little kid. 'I've always wanted to take a world title back there, it's my home. 'I'm a Central Coast boy. I've got people at home, that's where I come from. 'People from there, they feel like they don't have purpose. They don't have much. We didn't have much. 'To go around the world, and then back home and do it there, that's the ultimate goal.' Opetaia laughed when he's asked if he had scraps in and around Gosford Stadium back in the day. 'I got bashed a couple of times, but that's about it,' he joked. Opetaia was relentless against overmatched Squeo on Sunday, forcing 'Il Toro Rosso' to one knee when he broke the Italian's jaw with a right hook. Opetaia later said he knew instantly that it was broken. 'I felt it, and I heard it click when it landed,' Opetaia said. 'I heard the punch when it hit his jaw and I thought, 'This poor bastard'. 'I've been there before. I saw his jaw, and when I looked at it, it had a little bump.' It was the same venue and the same ring Opetaia's own jaw was shattered when he first won the IBF world title against Mairis Breidis in 2022. 'I didn't go down though,' Opetaia told Code Sports.
Daily Telegraph
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
What time is Jai Opetaia's fight and how can I watch it on DAZN: Live blog, results, highlights, knockout, Gilberto Ramirez
Three years after he broke his jaw winning the IBF cruiserweight world title, Jai Opetaia dished out the same punishment to Claudio Squeo, appearing to crack the Italian challenger's jaw in the fifth round of their IBF world title fight. Opetaia defended his world title in devastating fashion, hammering the overmatched Squeo with a big left hand from the opening minute. The finish came with a vicious right hook to Squeo's jaw, with Opetaia immediately saying he heard it crack when he hit it. The win sees Opetaia move a step closer to a cruiserweight unification bout against Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez. Ramirez defends his WBO and WBA titles against Yuniel Dorticos in seven weeks in Anaheim on the undercard to Jake Paul's fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Opetaia will be ringside and plans on calling the Mexican out. GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Jai Opetaia of Australia reacts after victory in his IBF Cruiserweight Title bout against Claudio Squeo of Italy at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 08, 2025 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by) 'Next fight, Zurdo Ramirez. Let's get it on. I'm chasing that belt, let's go,' Opetaia said. 'I'm not here to bad mouth him or beat him down. But the fight is easy to be made. We are ready. Whenever you call, we are ready. 'I believe I'm the best boxer in the cruiserweight division. Let's make the fight happen. Anyone who thinks they're the best, they're not the best until they beat me. 'Anywhere, anytime, just pick up the phone.' Opetaia's promoter, Mick Francis called on Ramirez to stop running and take the fight. 'The plan is to go over there and call him out. He's been dodging for a long time,' Francis said. 'Jai's been calling for this fight for a long time. 'He's 28, he's done the work, let's make it happen. 'Jai's respectful, but we need to call him out and make him fight Jai. He's ducking and dodging. The only way is to get on a plane, get over there and call him out.' It was all one way traffic on the Gold Coast, but there was confusion in the fourth round when Opetaia landed a massive uppercut to the body, forcing Squeo to take a knee. GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Jai Opetaia of Australia punches Claudio Squeo of Italy during their IBF Cruiserweight Title bout at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 08, 2025 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by) Referee Robert Hoyle didn't rule it a knockdown though, and appeared to call it a low blow. Opetaia argued, before Hoyle said the defending champion was illegally holding Squeo behind the head while punching him to the body. 'It's understandable, I was holding him,' Opetaia told Code Sports. 'It was illegal, that's why I wasn't blowing up or anything. 'But I thought he was saying low blow at the start. But he told me I was holding him.' Opetaia ended it in convincing fashion a round later though, clubbing a powerful right hook to Squeo's jaw. The tough challenger dropped to a knee and gestured to his jaw while being counted out. 'I felt it, and I heard it click when it landed,' Opetaia said. 'I heard the punch when it hit his jaw and I thought, 'This poor bastard'. 'I've been there before. I saw his jaw, and when I looked at it, it had a little bump.' It was the same venue and the same ring Opetaia's own jaw was shattered when he first won the IBF world title against Mairis Breidis in 2022. 'I didn't go down though,' Opetaia told Code Sports. In the co-main event, Conor Wallace fought through a busted eardrum to earn a hard-fought unanimous decision win over tough Frenchman Dylan Colin. One of the brightest prospects in Aussie boxing, Max McIntyre claimed another victim, knocking out New Zealander Ricaia Warren. Warren (5-1) was a game opponent, and landed well early on. But once McIntyre found his range, it was all one-way traffic. Two left hands signalled the beginning of the end for Warren. A powerful overhand right jolted the Kiwi's head back, forcing referee Paul 'The Tornado' Tapley to call it off. 'I got into my flow, as soon as I got into my gears, no one can stop me,' McIntyre said. 'I'm here for world titles. I want to go down as one of the greatest of all time. 'He was a tough opponent. I hit him with some right hands that other guys have gone down with.' Originally published as Jai Opetaia v Claudio Squeo: Jai Opetaia batters Claudio Squeo, calls out Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
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 Australian dominated the bout on the Gold Coast and landed a firm uppercut in the third round before connecting with some damaging 29, then floored Italian Squeo in the fourth round with a punishing shot to the 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 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 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 for the three-weight world champion extends his unbeaten record to 31 wins, including 24 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.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Jai Opetaia fights Claudio Squeo as he eyes Las Vegas bout on Crawford-Alvarez undercard
The two-way respect earned in an evening with Terence Crawford could pay off in the form of a Las Vegas stadium unification blockbuster for Jai Opetaia. Australian cruiserweight Opetaia (27-0) defends his IBF and The Ring belts on the Gold Coast on Sunday against Italian knockout artist Claudio Squeo (17-0). ABC Sport will have a live blog of Jai Opetaia defending his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight belts against Italian knockout artist Claudio Squeo on Sunday, June 8. If successful, the 29-year-old will then accelerate his push for more belts, a quest dating back almost three years since his upset win against Mairis Briedis despite breaking his jaw in two places. Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez will defend his WBA and WBO belts later this month and is Opetaia's target, potentially on the undercard to Crawford's super-fight against Canelo Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on September 25. Crawford, who took Jeff Horn's welterweight title in 2018, will aim to become a five-weight world champion and the first undisputed three-weight champion. Opetaia has never fought in the United States but has earned a reputation in the UK and has Saudi billionaire and boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh in his corner after a series of pulverising knockout wins in both countries. Manager Mick Francis plans to head to the U.S. after Sunday's fight to pursue a deal, buoyed after a meeting with future Hall of Famer Crawford on the Gold Coast last week. "After dealing with him, he's a real one of the sport and he realised I was too," Opetaia told AAP of his time with Crawford on the American's promotional tour. Crawford, among the world's top pound-for-pound talents, defied the poverty, crime and violence associated with his Omaha upbringing and now operates a not-for-profit gym there. NSW-born Opetaia has enjoyed recent visits to conduct junior clinics in Samoa, a heritage he celebrates heavily on fight nights. "There's a lot of similarities in how he thinks, it was refreshing to hear his take," Opetaia said. "I've looked up to him, now we're both up there, rubbing shoulders on the same stage. "I'm telling you. Canelo-Crawford, with me and Zurdo on the undercard … 100 per cent. "We can't get comfortable, though." That's because a shock loss to the unfancied but dangerous Squeo would up-end all those plans. But Opetaia, who qualified for the Olympics as a 16-year-old and fought at the London 2012 Games at 17, has never got ahead of himself. A fourth-generation boxer on his dad's side and third-generation on his mum's, Opetaia cannot remember a time he was not near a ring. "It wasn't a specific moment; I grew up in it, it was life," he said. "Training, boxing, sparring and punching on. "When I was a little boy, I'd go for runs before school, then the gym straight after. "There was no homework for me. My homework was training. "That's what's pushing me for the unification fights so much. The Convention Centre card also features Brisbane-based Irish light heavyweight world title prospect Conor Wallace, rejuvenated super welterweight Ben Mahoney, and entertaining Paris Olympic heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana. AAP
