Give Opetaia a watch this weekend

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by sasto, Sep 29, 2023.


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  1. sasto

    sasto Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    If you weren't up and watching boxing at dawn one weekend in 2022 you would look at Jai Opetaia's record and see another young belt holder who got one good win, disappeared for 14 months, and came back to fight an opponent who isn't anyone's #1 contender. You may have even heard the one win was quite close and of course he was the hometown fighter. All the hallmarks of a disappointing fighter.

    But if you were awake, you saw a really incredible display of fortitude (and, to me, the FOTY for 2022).

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    Not sure if they have it on that replay but he tried to do a post fight interview with his jaw hanging loose off his face. He stuck around at the venue for a long time after the fight to do his post fight drug tests and other BS. Briedis too, both deserve enormous credit for the fight and there ought to be a well promoted rematch.

    Of everyone fighting this weekend, not a lot of them are capable of doing what Opetaia did. This is someone who has earned a slice of your attention.
     
    sasto, Sep 29, 2023
    sasto, Sep 29, 2023
    #1
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  2. The G-Man

    The G-Man I'm more of a vet. banned Full Member

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    I like Jai and it will be interesting how he handles having the title.
    Thompson shouldnt be a real challenge though.
     
    The G-Man, Sep 29, 2023
    The G-Man, Sep 29, 2023
    #2
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  3. sasto

    sasto Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I had seen a few fights of his before the Briedis showdown and I just didn't see that performance coming.

    I can't imagine getting back in the ring after you got turned into this guy:

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    Hopefully the surgeons did a very good job on his jaw because it seems like he's determined to get it tested.
     
    sasto, Sep 29, 2023
    sasto, Sep 29, 2023
    #3
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  4. CroBox29

    CroBox29 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Thompson is in excellent physical condition, he is well built and ready to fight...
     
    CroBox29, Sep 29, 2023
    CroBox29, Sep 29, 2023
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  5. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Hope he wins and there is a Briedis rematch.
     
    catchwtboxing, Sep 30, 2023
    catchwtboxing, Sep 30, 2023
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  6. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    Opetaia should win via stoppage tonight but, like fellow British CWs Riakporhe and Okolie, Thompson is absolutely gigantic for the weight with SHW dimensions and he can punch hard and is talented. Opetaia isn't a big CW and he looks a lot smaller than Thompson who seems brimming with confidence.

    Also, Opetaia has obviously been very inactive and it's his first fight back after suffering that gruesome jaw injury and it's in Thompson's backyard. All this obviously factored into Thompson's decision to take this fight so even though the odds are stacked against him winning there are numerous advantageous factors in his favour to even it up to a certain degree.

    Good short documentary about Opetaia and the Briedis fight in particular

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    Serge, Sep 30, 2023
    Serge, Sep 30, 2023
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  7. like a boss

    like a boss Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The rematch is virtually assured provided Opetaia wins. The only reason it isn't happening now is a Briedis injury.
     
    like a boss, Sep 30, 2023
    like a boss, Sep 30, 2023
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  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Fair shout.

    Based on what i'm reading int he Australia thread, he's not getting the juice at home. He has that humble, likeable feel those dudes project despite (in this case) enormous physical confidence and I like that in people. I'll be watching him.
     
    McGrain, Sep 30, 2023
    McGrain, Sep 30, 2023
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  9. The Cryptkeeper

    The Cryptkeeper Well-Known Member Full Member

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    That was a brutal performance.

    He won’t be beaten at CW and will be in P4P discussions soon enough.
     
    The Cryptkeeper, Oct 2, 2023
    The Cryptkeeper, Oct 2, 2023
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  10. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    I think he has P4P top 10 potential for sure. People been acting like CWs can't and don't possess elite level skills for too long but that simply is not true.

    Usyk is as skilled as anyone in the sport outside of Loma and there are only a couple of others out there who inhabit his skill tier.

    Briedis albeit to a lesser extent is a skilled boxer puncher who just so happens to be blessed with savage explosive power, good speed, footwork, stamina and a great chin. He was ranked just outside the P4P top 10 and in terms of talent, attributes and skills he's just as good as many ranked in it if not better than some.

    Now we have the next generation in Opetaia reppin CW who is a high skill customer with power, speed, ring IQ, heart, chin and toughness.
     
    Serge, Oct 2, 2023
    Serge, Oct 2, 2023
    #10
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  11. Limerickbox

    Limerickbox Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Looks great in this fight.

    Him and Billam Smith would be a fun fight, and CBS is apparently having difficulty getting the Okolie rematch made, so we could see it
     
    Limerickbox, Oct 2, 2023
    Limerickbox, Oct 2, 2023
    #11
  12. DramaShow

    DramaShow 19 banned Full Member

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    No there is no chance we see it. Billam-Smith is promoted by Ben Shalom (Boxxer) who has pulled his fighters Fraser Clarke and Richard Riakporhe out of purse bids against Fabio Wardley and Jai Opetaia because they are promoted by Eddie Hearn (Matchroom). Why would Shalom risk losing the World Title belt on an away show?

    Lawrence Okolie has enforced his rematch clause against Billam-Smith. The problem is that the first fight was only possible because it took place at a stadium (the Vitality Stadium, Billam-Smith's home ground). They can't go outdoors in the winter so there is no way they can make the finances work unless the broadcaster, Sky, take a hit, or they go to London and shift a load of tickets which is unlikely.

    Shalom is desperate for Okolie to move up to heavyweight so he can make Billam-Smith vs Masternak. Remember that Masternak was Opetaia's originaly mandatory, but Boxxer paid Masternak money to step-aside with the promise of a fight against Billam-Smith so that Riakporhe could fight Opetaia. They then for some reason pulled Riakporhe out of the purse bid.

    Opetaia will likely be frozen out after beating Briedis unless they can make a unification with Goumalirian for the WBA. Apparently Badou Jack wants to move up to Briderweight so hopefully the WBC becomes vacant.
     
    DramaShow, Oct 2, 2023
    DramaShow, Oct 2, 2023
    #12
  13. Diagoras

    Diagoras Active Member Full Member

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    Great showing by Jai, he lets his hands go & has that KO power which is 1 of the prerequisites to being a star with the general public

    Was also impressed by his performance against Breidis, it was a close fight but you have to appreciate the fact that he had it in him to fight on with a destroyed jaw

    He needs to be very active from here on out to make up for the lost time & the first step is to become undisputed at CW after the Breidis rematch & it looks like that's what he wants as well with his call out to Chris Smith
     
    Diagoras, Oct 2, 2023
    Diagoras, Oct 2, 2023
    #13
  14. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    Serge, Oct 2, 2023
    Serge, Oct 2, 2023
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  15. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    I can definitely see some Usyk influence in Opetaia's style but now it has been confirmed by Opetaia himself

    To be a fan of Usyk and his greatness and to speak kind words about him is not only a beautiful thing do it's the right thing to do and every single one of us on here knows that and any fighter who does so will immediately win themselves a new fan named Serge or if, as is the case with Opetaia, I'm already a fan of theirs it will make them shoot up even further in my estimation and me an even bigger fan of them

    ''I'm a fan of Usyk. I used to watch Usyk so much coming through my pro ranks and now I could be his competition.''

    Timestamped

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    Serge, Oct 2, 2023
    Serge, Oct 2, 2023
    #15
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