Jai Opetaia is giving WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol a boost in his fight against undefeated knockout machine Artur Beterbiev eight days from now on October 12. IBF cruiserweight champion Opetaia admits he’s a fan of Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs), and would like to fight him or Beterbiev in the future.
Opetaia (25-0, 19 KOs) defends his IBF title against Jack Massey on the undercard of Beterbiev-Bivol in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His current goal is to collect all the cruiserweight titles against other champions, but if the winner of Beterbiev vs. Bivol goes up, he would like to fight them.
“It’s boxing. I’ve been in this game my whole life. I believe that anyone in that ring, I have the ability to beat,” said Jai Opetaia speaking to Queensberry about himself including Artur Beterbiev. “You have to fight smart and do the right things. I believe in my ability, I can do that to any fighter.”
Opetaia will have a better chance of defeating Bivol due to her strength and size. Bivol is a boxer who would force Opetaia into boxing. You will have a good chance of winning that kind of battle. Beterbiev will be very difficult for Opetaia because he fights inside, and that is where he is weak.
Opetaia is a type of fighter who throws potshots to the outside, and dives and throws punches together. That style wouldn’t work against Beterbiev, who would force an inside fight and cut Opetaia down.
“He’s the best boxer who punches,” Opetaia said of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol. “I am very dependent on Bivol because I am a Bivol fan. I love her style. It will be a good fight. I’m really interested in it.”
A two-time 175-lb champion, Beterbiev is the most likely to move up to cruiserweight to challenge Opetaia, but only if he wins against Bivol. If he loses, Beterbiev will want a rematch, and he will get it if the Honorable Turki Alalshikh is interested in seeing them fight again.
“Of course. I’m going to fight every night and rate everybody from my professional days when I was rocking tournaments,” Opetaia said when asked about his thoughts on a fight with Beterbiev or Bivol. “That’s something that could easily happen in the future.
“That’s one of those big fights that builds profile. I have to do my job and manage my business. Whoever wins this battle will be great. It’s definitely possible, but my full focus is on collecting the cruiserweight belts right now. But if those opportunities come up, I’ll be taking them for sure,” said Opetaia about his interest in fighting the winner of the Beterbiev vs. Bivol.
It is understandable why Opetaia rated Beterbiev after hearing about his interest in fighting him. It would be foolish for Opetaia to think that because she is bigger than him, she will win because she does not have the same skill and fight inside. Again, Opetaia is only a potshot fighter, and doesn’t know how to fight up close.
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