JAI OPETAIA might make the fourth defence of his IBF cruiserweight title on January 8 in Australia.
The 29-year-old’s potential opponent is obligatory challenger Huseyin ‘The Hurricane’ Cinkara, 22-0 (18 KOs), a 39-year-old German-born Turkish fighter who made his skilled debut in June 2016.
Cinkara grabbed the obligatory spot after profitable a ultimate eliminator towards Armend Xhoxhaj in two rounds in April. Xhoxhaj is thought for going 5 rounds with former WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith in December 2022. The unbeaten contender’s file gained’t fill anybody with confidence of an upset, nonetheless, as there are not any wins on his résumé to counsel he’s worthy of the obligatory slot.
Followers of Opetaia won’t solely anticipate the champion to cope with Cinkara swiftly, ought to the battle be finalised, however that it’s going to result in a cruiserweight unification super-fight towards Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez. The Mexican added the WBO belt to his WBA after beating Billam-Smith in an absorbing encounter on November 16.
Opetaia has made no secret of the very fact he desires extra titles and the most important battle doable however since changing into champion solely his rematch victory towards Mairis Briedis stands out. Since surviving a damaged jaw to beat the Latvian in July 2022 Opetaia has defeated Jordan Thompson, Ellis Zorro and Jack Massey together with the factors win over Briedis.
