Opatija and Usyk: Cruiserweight Champ meets Heavyweight King

Jay Opetaya said on Saturday that he plans to regain the undisputed cruiserweight title in 2025 and then move up to heavyweight if he still holds Oleksandr Usyk.

Size difference

Usyk and Jai met at the ring awards on Saturday. When they stand side by side, Usic looks much taller than the 6’2″ Opetaya. If this fight is made, Opetaya won’t enjoy his usual size advantage, which he’s come to rely on at cruiserweight.

Moreover, one armed fighting style can be learned and embarrassed by Usik. Jay uses a buffalo-esque style that he learned from watching the former WBA light heavyweight champion. Usyk has seen that style time and time again in his years on the amateur circuit in Ukraine and wins easily.

If Usyk loses the titles Daniel Dubois In the rematch, Opatya puts him in a position where he has to decide whether to go after the belts on the dreaded Power Driver. Anyway, Opetaya’s class is a bad look to fight Usyk.

That makes him look cowardly. If that fight ever happens, Jai will be a draw against DuBois. While Opetaya has bulked up, he’ll be smaller next to Dubois in the ring. I don’t see a good result for the Australian. He is not another Evander Holyfield. He doesn’t have that kind of talent.

Opatija’s promoter Eddie Hearn will have to prepare a unification fight for the cruiserweight title against WBC champion Badu Jack and WBA and WBO belt holder Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez this year.

IBF cruiserweight champion Opetaya (27-0, 21 KOs) defeated challenger David Nika (10-1, 9 KOs) in the fourth round on January 8 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia.

Cruiser weight first

“I’m glad it turned out that way. The fans got what they wanted. It was good to be back home, and we had such energy,” Jai Opetaia said.alkSport boxingDiscussing his win over David Nika in Australia on January 8th.

“No, I’d better go again. I’m chasing those unification fights,” said Opetaya, who was reacting to being told his face was unrecognizable less than a week after his four-round fight with hard-punching Nika.

“I’m a little satisfied. After the first round, I had this image in my head of those Hagler-Hearns type of fights,” said Opetaya, who landed some big shots from the 6’6” Nika in the contest. “It was good to be a part of it. I am happy that I put up a good show and put up a good fight.

“Of course, man. That’s the goal,” said Opetaya of his desire to not fight at cruiserweight and then move up to heavyweight to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for the world title.

Oleksandr Usyk with Jay Opetaya #Ring awards pic.twitter.com/9zNJoeq1Ax

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 11, 2025