Latest news with #Opetaia
The Advertiser
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
What happens when you go toe-to-toe with a 'monster'
Good luck going toe-to-toe with a "monster". Jai Opetaia's most recent victim has offered a chilling warning to the Australian's Italian title challenger as he prepares for his own ring return. David Nyika, New Zealand's former Olympic silver medallist and flag bearer, was humbled in a furious Gold Coast slugfest that left him bloodied and sprawled on the canvas in January. The 29-year-old (10-1) will return to the ring against countryman Nik Charalampous (23-6-2) on the Paul Gallen-Sonny Bill Williams card in Sydney on July 16. In a cautious return from concussion, Nyika is yet to complete heavy sparring but is confident and reflective after those ferocious four rounds with the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion. "I had my fingers crossed for rounds six, seven, eight ... predicting a later stoppage because I knew he was going to be an absolute monster for four to six rounds," Nyika told AAP. "I was just trying to be sensible, but not doing a great job of it. "The old saying, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face ... but for me, I got buzzed right off the bell by a head clash. "He's the man and the guy to beat and nothing changes - I still want to knock his head off the block. "It was good to get a full re-set, but I'm back now, A-OK and putting a target on July 16." Opetaia (27-0) faces the unbeaten Claudio Squeo (17-0) on the Gold Coast on Sunday. He hopes a blockbuster unification clash with Gilberto Ramirez in Las Vegas later this year is next. The Australian is wary, though, not expecting Squeo to heed Nyika's warning despite only two of Opetaia's last eight fights going beyond six rounds. "He's dangerous; there's no mystery to what this guy's going to try to do," Opetaia said. "(He will) walk forward and try to take my head off. "He's been icing people, knocking them out cold. His game plan will be to go forward and throw bombs, because he obviously can't box with me. "It's serious - for a world title - so in no way am I taking it lightly." The pair faced off for the first time on Wednesday on the Gold Coast and will complete public workouts at Pacific Fair shopping centre on Thursday night. 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. Good luck going toe-to-toe with a "monster". Jai Opetaia's most recent victim has offered a chilling warning to the Australian's Italian title challenger as he prepares for his own ring return. David Nyika, New Zealand's former Olympic silver medallist and flag bearer, was humbled in a furious Gold Coast slugfest that left him bloodied and sprawled on the canvas in January. The 29-year-old (10-1) will return to the ring against countryman Nik Charalampous (23-6-2) on the Paul Gallen-Sonny Bill Williams card in Sydney on July 16. In a cautious return from concussion, Nyika is yet to complete heavy sparring but is confident and reflective after those ferocious four rounds with the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion. "I had my fingers crossed for rounds six, seven, eight ... predicting a later stoppage because I knew he was going to be an absolute monster for four to six rounds," Nyika told AAP. "I was just trying to be sensible, but not doing a great job of it. "The old saying, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face ... but for me, I got buzzed right off the bell by a head clash. "He's the man and the guy to beat and nothing changes - I still want to knock his head off the block. "It was good to get a full re-set, but I'm back now, A-OK and putting a target on July 16." Opetaia (27-0) faces the unbeaten Claudio Squeo (17-0) on the Gold Coast on Sunday. He hopes a blockbuster unification clash with Gilberto Ramirez in Las Vegas later this year is next. The Australian is wary, though, not expecting Squeo to heed Nyika's warning despite only two of Opetaia's last eight fights going beyond six rounds. "He's dangerous; there's no mystery to what this guy's going to try to do," Opetaia said. "(He will) walk forward and try to take my head off. "He's been icing people, knocking them out cold. His game plan will be to go forward and throw bombs, because he obviously can't box with me. "It's serious - for a world title - so in no way am I taking it lightly." The pair faced off for the first time on Wednesday on the Gold Coast and will complete public workouts at Pacific Fair shopping centre on Thursday night. 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. Good luck going toe-to-toe with a "monster". Jai Opetaia's most recent victim has offered a chilling warning to the Australian's Italian title challenger as he prepares for his own ring return. David Nyika, New Zealand's former Olympic silver medallist and flag bearer, was humbled in a furious Gold Coast slugfest that left him bloodied and sprawled on the canvas in January. The 29-year-old (10-1) will return to the ring against countryman Nik Charalampous (23-6-2) on the Paul Gallen-Sonny Bill Williams card in Sydney on July 16. In a cautious return from concussion, Nyika is yet to complete heavy sparring but is confident and reflective after those ferocious four rounds with the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion. "I had my fingers crossed for rounds six, seven, eight ... predicting a later stoppage because I knew he was going to be an absolute monster for four to six rounds," Nyika told AAP. "I was just trying to be sensible, but not doing a great job of it. "The old saying, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face ... but for me, I got buzzed right off the bell by a head clash. "He's the man and the guy to beat and nothing changes - I still want to knock his head off the block. "It was good to get a full re-set, but I'm back now, A-OK and putting a target on July 16." Opetaia (27-0) faces the unbeaten Claudio Squeo (17-0) on the Gold Coast on Sunday. He hopes a blockbuster unification clash with Gilberto Ramirez in Las Vegas later this year is next. The Australian is wary, though, not expecting Squeo to heed Nyika's warning despite only two of Opetaia's last eight fights going beyond six rounds. "He's dangerous; there's no mystery to what this guy's going to try to do," Opetaia said. "(He will) walk forward and try to take my head off. "He's been icing people, knocking them out cold. His game plan will be to go forward and throw bombs, because he obviously can't box with me. "It's serious - for a world title - so in no way am I taking it lightly." The pair faced off for the first time on Wednesday on the Gold Coast and will complete public workouts at Pacific Fair shopping centre on Thursday night. 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.
Perth Now
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
What happens when you go toe-to-toe with a 'monster'
Good luck going toe-to-toe with a "monster". Jai Opetaia's most recent victim has offered a chilling warning to the Australian's Italian title challenger as he prepares for his own ring return. David Nyika, New Zealand's former Olympic silver medallist and flag bearer, was humbled in a furious Gold Coast slugfest that left him bloodied and sprawled on the canvas in January. The 29-year-old (10-1) will return to the ring against countryman Nik Charalampous (23-6-2) on the Paul Gallen-Sonny Bill Williams card in Sydney on July 16. In a cautious return from concussion, Nyika is yet to complete heavy sparring but is confident and reflective after those ferocious four rounds with the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion. "I had my fingers crossed for rounds six, seven, eight ... predicting a later stoppage because I knew he was going to be an absolute monster for four to six rounds," Nyika told AAP. "I was just trying to be sensible, but not doing a great job of it. "The old saying, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face ... but for me, I got buzzed right off the bell by a head clash. "He's the man and the guy to beat and nothing changes - I still want to knock his head off the block. "It was good to get a full re-set, but I'm back now, A-OK and putting a target on July 16." Opetaia (27-0) faces the unbeaten Claudio Squeo (17-0) on the Gold Coast on Sunday. He hopes a blockbuster unification clash with Gilberto Ramirez in Las Vegas later this year is next. The Australian is wary, though, not expecting Squeo to heed Nyika's warning despite only two of Opetaia's last eight fights going beyond six rounds. "He's dangerous; there's no mystery to what this guy's going to try to do," Opetaia said. "(He will) walk forward and try to take my head off. "He's been icing people, knocking them out cold. His game plan will be to go forward and throw bombs, because he obviously can't box with me. "It's serious - for a world title - so in no way am I taking it lightly." The pair faced off for the first time on Wednesday on the Gold Coast and will complete public workouts at Pacific Fair shopping centre on Thursday night. 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.
West Australian
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
What happens when you go toe-to-toe with a 'monster'
Good luck going toe-to-toe with a "monster". Jai Opetaia's most recent victim has offered a chilling warning to the Australian's Italian title challenger as he prepares for his own ring return. David Nyika, New Zealand's former Olympic silver medallist and flag bearer, was humbled in a furious Gold Coast slugfest that left him bloodied and sprawled on the canvas in January. The 29-year-old (10-1) will return to the ring against countryman Nik Charalampous (23-6-2) on the Paul Gallen-Sonny Bill Williams card in Sydney on July 16. In a cautious return from concussion, Nyika is yet to complete heavy sparring but is confident and reflective after those ferocious four rounds with the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion. "I had my fingers crossed for rounds six, seven, eight ... predicting a later stoppage because I knew he was going to be an absolute monster for four to six rounds," Nyika told AAP. "I was just trying to be sensible, but not doing a great job of it. "The old saying, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face ... but for me, I got buzzed right off the bell by a head clash. "He's the man and the guy to beat and nothing changes - I still want to knock his head off the block. "It was good to get a full re-set, but I'm back now, A-OK and putting a target on July 16." Opetaia (27-0) faces the unbeaten Claudio Squeo (17-0) on the Gold Coast on Sunday. He hopes a blockbuster unification clash with Gilberto Ramirez in Las Vegas later this year is next. The Australian is wary, though, not expecting Squeo to heed Nyika's warning despite only two of Opetaia's last eight fights going beyond six rounds. "He's dangerous; there's no mystery to what this guy's going to try to do," Opetaia said. "(He will) walk forward and try to take my head off. "He's been icing people, knocking them out cold. His game plan will be to go forward and throw bombs, because he obviously can't box with me. "It's serious - for a world title - so in no way am I taking it lightly." The pair faced off for the first time on Wednesday on the Gold Coast and will complete public workouts at Pacific Fair shopping centre on Thursday night. 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.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussie champ's seven-figure offer to put belts on table
Jai Opetaia is prepared to make a seven-figure sacrifice in his drawn-out quest for world boxing title unification. The Australian cruiserweight sensation (27-0) will defend his IBF and The Ring belts on the Gold Coast this Sunday against unbeaten Italian Claudio Squeo (17-0). They'll come face-to-face for the first time on Wednesday before headlining a stacked card that includes Conor Wallace, Ben Mahoney, Max McIntyre and Teremoana Teremoana. The fight comes almost three years after an unfancied Opetaia defied two breaks in his jaw to beat champion Mairis Briedis and claim those titles. He's fought five times since - the Briedis rematch last year his only genuine challenge - but is yet to land a shot at the other three belts in his division. The Ring cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia's rise to world champion has been impressive 😮💨Here are some of his best performances 🌟🥊 — Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) June 3, 2025 Badou Jack owns the WBC belt but it's WBO and WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez firmly in Opetaia's sights, the Mexican two-weight champion due for a mandatory defence later this month and insistent he will face the Australian next. "I'll believe it when I see it," Opetaia told AAP. "(Former WBO champion Chris) Billam-Smith said that same stuff before he lost to Ramirez. "They all talk like that. "So when they're f***ing ready, I'll be ready." Should both fighters win, an Opetaia-Ramirez, four-belt unification bout would sit nicely on the undercard to September's historic duel between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. The purse on a blockbuster card would swell into the millions and traditionally be split between fighters who both hold two belts. But Opetaia said he'd be willing to leave half of his cut on the table if that sways the Mexican great to sign the deal. "If I have to, and they're being that hard to deal with," he said. "It should be down the middle but if he wants to be a sook, bro, take more, then. "I don't give a f***. I personally believe I'm the best and all I have to do is win, then the next fight I'll get paid. "It's not the money I'm chasing, it's the belts." A stumbling block presents in Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who will headline the Ramirez card on June 28 and has a long list of future targets that includes the Mexican, but not Opetaia. "Why don't they ask him about me?," Opetaia said of the former Disney star. "If he wants to get bashed, I'll bash him. He won't fight me. Why am I even talking about him? "I am the best cruiserweight in the world and no one is until they beat me." That will be the unranked Squeo's tall task in his first fight outside of Italy, the 34-year-old known as 'The Red Bull' arriving with a reputation as a knockout specialist. "It is annoying and especially these fights like this; dangerous and it's all risk and not much reward," Opetaia said of the non-mandatory defence designed to keep him busy. "It's just how it works. I have to stay on the ball and it's what makes the good great; the ones who stay switched on throughout these things."
West Australian
a day ago
- Business
- West Australian
Aussie champ's seven-figure offer to put belts on table
Jai Opetaia is prepared to make a seven-figure sacrifice in his drawn-out quest for world boxing title unification. The Australian cruiserweight sensation (27-0) will defend his IBF and The Ring belts on the Gold Coast this Sunday against unbeaten Italian Claudio Squeo (17-0). They'll come face-to-face for the first time on Wednesday before headlining a stacked card that includes Conor Wallace, Ben Mahoney, Max McIntyre and Teremoana Teremoana. The fight comes almost three years after an unfancied Opetaia defied two breaks in his jaw to beat champion Mairis Briedis and claim those titles. He's fought five times since - the Briedis rematch last year his only genuine challenge - but is yet to land a shot at the other three belts in his division. Badou Jack owns the WBC belt but it's WBO and WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez firmly in Opetaia's sights, the Mexican two-weight champion due for a mandatory defence later this month and insistent he will face the Australian next. "I'll believe it when I see it," Opetaia told AAP. "(Former WBO champion Chris) Billam-Smith said that same stuff before he lost to Ramirez. "They all talk like that. "So when they're f***ing ready, I'll be ready." Should both fighters win, an Opetaia-Ramirez, four-belt unification bout would sit nicely on the undercard to September's historic duel between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. The purse on a blockbuster card would swell into the millions and traditionally be split between fighters who both hold two belts. But Opetaia said he'd be willing to leave half of his cut on the table if that sways the Mexican great to sign the deal. "If I have to, and they're being that hard to deal with," he said. "It should be down the middle but if he wants to be a sook, bro, take more, then. "I don't give a f***. I personally believe I'm the best and all I have to do is win, then the next fight I'll get paid. "It's not the money I'm chasing, it's the belts." A stumbling block presents in Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who will headline the Ramirez card on June 28 and has a long list of future targets that includes the Mexican, but not Opetaia. "Why don't they ask him about me?," Opetaia said of the former Disney star. "If he wants to get bashed, I'll bash him. He won't fight me. Why am I even talking about him? "I am the best cruiserweight in the world and no one is until they beat me." That will be the unranked Squeo's tall task in his first fight outside of Italy, the 34-year-old known as 'The Red Bull' arriving with a reputation as a knockout specialist. "It is annoying and especially these fights like this; dangerous and it's all risk and not much reward," Opetaia said of the non-mandatory defence designed to keep him busy. "It's just how it works. I have to stay on the ball and it's what makes the good great; the ones who stay switched on throughout these things."
