No one wants to fight Australia’s best boxer, Jai Opetaia. Huseyin Cinkara is the exception as cruiserweight world title goes on the line
But first he has to pass Cinkara.
“Just another day at the office,” Opetaia said. “I’m just thinking of opening a clinic.”
For 40-year-old Cinkara, this is the last chance to take down a big name. Opetaia, who is 10 years his junior, has bigger paydays ahead of him if he can get through unscathed.
Ring of Fire fight card
- Jai Opetaia – Hüseyin Cinkara: IBF and The Ring world cruiserweight titles
- Max McIntyre vs. Jed Morris: WBC Australasian super middleweight title
- Jake Wyllie and Paul Fleming
- Teremoana Teremoana – German Garcia Montes
- Benny Mahoney vs. Winston Hill: IBF Pan Pacific super heavyweight title
- Jason Moloney and Herlan Gomez: WBC Australasian bantamweight title
- Jack Gregory and Hayden Emmerson: IBF youth middleweight world championship
Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis said: “We actually offered Cinkara more money to step aside than we did to fight.” “He thinks he’s going to knock Jai out. He’s delusional.”
Opetaia is perhaps Australia’s best-kept sporting secret. Although he is respected in the boxing community and feared by his opponents, he is not a well-known name in Australia. That could change if he becomes the unified cruiserweight champion and achieves similar success at heavyweight, but for now the biggest challenge is finding willing opponents.
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“The money Ramirez is asking is very expensive,” Francis said.
“Ramirez doesn’t want to fight Jai. He’s 36, he’s got a young family, he’s a Mexican superstar there, he makes a lot of money from endorsements.”
“Why would he end his career hiding from Jai Opetaia?
“He wouldn’t have made $8 million in his entire career.
“Benavidez, they call him a monster and he’s a different monster. I think he’ll fight Jai. He’s not afraid of anyone. He’s not as old as Ramirez, he’s almost the Mexican version of Jai Opetaia. He’s an animal and he’s not afraid of anyone.”
Ring of Fire: Opetaia and Cinkara The main card will take place live from 6pm AEDT on Saturday 6 December. Order now Stan pay per view.
