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Eddie Hearn says IBF heavyweight champion Jai Opettaya will potentially challenge Alexander Usyk for his world heavyweight titles in “12 to 18 months” with the help of the “money from” Turki Al-Shiekh.
Hearn revealed that the plan is to boost Opetaia's “credibility” by making him the undisputed heavyweight champion by taking the WBA, WBC and WBO belts from Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez and Badou Jack. Once Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) does that, he'll move up to heavyweight to challenge Usyk for his belts if he doesn't retire or get beat by someone before then.
Jumping the line?
There's something off-putting about Opetaia getting a title shot in his first heavyweight fight without at least fighting a title eliminator or one of the top contenders waiting to compete for a world title. When a fighter gets a straight title fight without even competing in the division first, boxing looks less like a real sport and more like just popularity and money.
As good as Opetaia looked Wednesday night knocking out David Nyika (10-1, 9 KOs) in the fourth round at the Gold Coast Convention Center, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia, it's hard to imagine him defeating heavyweight opponents like Martin Bakole.
18 month plan
“Jay is going to collect all the heavyweight belts to become undisputed and then we want to push him towards a fight against Alexander Usyk at heavyweight to try and become undisputed as well,” Eddie Hearn told DAZNtalking about wanting Jai Opetaia to collect all the heavyweight titles and then move up to heavyweight to do the same there.
“I believe he's the only guy at heavyweight or heavyweight that can really give Alexander Usyk a real, real fight, but in order to do that, we have to take every heavyweight belt first to give him the confidence and the money by His Excellency to have Alexander Usyk enter the ring.
“Believe me, in 12 to 18 months, Jai Opetaia vs. Oleksandr Usyk is an all-time classic,” Hearn said.
Opetaia could be undone when he steps in with WBA and WBO heavyweight champion “Zurdo” Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs). It's a big step up from the likes of Nyika and the faded Mairis Briedis. He could lose to Zurdo, which would spoil Hearn's vision of him moving up to challenge Usyk.
In the case of Usyk. He could retire soon or be beaten by IBF champion Daniel Dubois. Usyk won't wait for Opetaia to collect all the heavyweight belts before fighting again. He will remain active and one of the obvious fights that could happen is a rematch with Dubois.
Alexander was lucky not to be knocked out in their fight on August 26, 2023. He was dropped by what appeared to be a legal shot, but the referee called an undershot. Replays showed it was on the belt line. Dubois will focus on Usyk's body in the rematch, knowing he is weak there.
