Poll - Will Jai Opetaia win a title at heavyweight?

Not for me personally, he's brilliant but he's too small and he's a level or 2 below Usyk. His last 2 performances were emphatic but we can't ignore the opposition....British level fighters and he did go life and death with a 38 year old Breidis.

Going from CW to HW is the biggest step up, and ok the top 10 might not be the best at the minute but one could argue the top 10 at CW is even worst, I still feel the likes of Zhang, Parker, Dubois, Wallin, Sanchez, even Anderson and Hrgovic would give him a tough night.

 

Can't see it mate, I just don't think he hits hard enough......and unlike someone like Okolie or Riakporhe, isn't particularly long and rangey to box at range which is the biggest + he holds at CW.

Wallin was terrible in his last fight but going from fighting someone like AJ to Opetaia, it's incomparable.

 

He'll be a small heavyweight but with his skillset, speed etc I can see him picking up a belt in the post Usyk - Fury - AJ - Wilder void

 

Depends on who winds up with one of the alphabet belts.

 

No reason why he can't.
True, he isn't huge, but neither was Mike Tyson.
If he's managed well, looks after himself & stays hungry, he has every chance.

 

Itauma doesn't seem to have power though with 10 KO's in 22 bouts, similar to Justis Huni

I haven't seen him but power is more important at HW than any other weight class, so that could handicap him

 

Mike Tyson was always around 220 in his best shape though. Opetaia has a thin frame and never really looks all that much bigger than his opponents.

 

After Fury has played a little with him in sparring he'll stay put

He can't handle the big boys.

If he can be managed into big paydays there he'll risk it.

 

Yes, lots of belts to go around. But that's contingent on two things: 1) him actually filling that frame up and moving to HW and 2) get a belt holder to fight him.

 

He has.
Diet etc could change that to a degree.
Don't expect him to do too well against fellas with a Tyson Fury physique, but that's down to management. These 6'9'' boys with amazing skill aren't that common either.