IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia 22-0 (17) has his sights set on a big 2023 with plans to fight the biggest names in the division.
The 27-year-old Australian southpaw became world champion when defeated Mairis Briedis 28-2 (20) on points on the Gold Coast in July this year by scores of 116-112 twice and 115-113. The victory did not come without cost. Opetaia suffered two fractures to his jaw for his efforts.
With those wounds now mended, Opetaia is looking ahead to the future. Possible unification bouts with WBA champion Arsen Goulamirian 27-0 (18), WBC champion Ilunga Makabu 29-2 (25) or WBO champion Lawrence Okolie 18-0 (14) could all be possibilities.
“I’m at the table with the world champs now, I’m not playing in the backyard anymore,” Opetaia said to Wide World of Sports. “I’m on the world stage. I’m a world champion. There’s like seven billion people in the world, I’m the number cruiserweight in the fucking world, bro.
“How many people get to say that? And that was just the start, that was my first world title fight. I’ve fought the best and I’ve beat the best, and now I want more, I’m not done.
“They’ve thrown a few names around, mandatories, and going over to England – but I don’t give a fuck who I fight next. All I want is to get paid what I deserve, and I’ll fight anyone.
“Everyone wants to fight for a world title, everyone is calling me out. They mean nothing. World champions are born in the gym, they’re born out of years of dedication.
“They are not just that, ‘Oh I’m going to call him out.’ That’s that showbiz shit. They’re getting mixed up with the fight game and show business because you’ve got YouTubers and shit fighting. Your mouth doesn’t get you fights, hard work does.
“We’re in a position to conquer this whole fucking thing, like we can turn Australian boxing into something huge.”
