Jai Opetaia vs Fabio Wardley - Who Wins?

Jai is a more talented boxer who is quicker, more skilled, and has greater punch variety.

But Jai's defense is far too open. He got caught with some big shots vs Nyika and powered through them. With respect to Nyika, he does not hit like Wardley.

Jai has the potential to go all the way at heavy but he needs to utilize his jab more, move around more and not take the big guys head on until late in the fight.

Problem is Jai is so powerful, fast and has such tremendous punching variety (hooks, uppercuts, rear hand) that he feels he can walk through anyone. And at cruiser he can. But at heavy, he can't.

Jai needs to study Usyk and rely more on his jab rather than the lead hook and uppercut. If he tries to attack Wardley like that, he could stop Wardley but he could conversely get stopped himself.

The hooks and uppercuts are great but they need to be used later in the fight.

Right now i pick Wardley by stoppage. Opetaia is possibly the best offensive fighter in the world in any weight class. But the defense needs serious work if he is going to take on A level punchers at heavy.

 

Wardley gets comprehensively outboxed until the exact second he lands and wins by KO.

 

I would back Opetaia to stop him late.

 

I wouldn't pick Wardley with any sort of confidence here, I think it's a war which could go either way.
Wardley is more powerful but there is a huge skill deficit, and Opetaia is tough to knock out (IMHO probably tougher than Parker at this stage of his career, I do think Parker's chin has slowly been declining).

 

Eh idk, a shot Briedis had him hurt.

 

Briedis was past his best but not shot. The guy can crack.

 

I'd favour Jai to stop him late, but it could go either way

 

I like Opetaia but I don't like predicting CWs at HW.

If Opetaia is as good as he is at CW, and thats a big if. Then I'd back Opetaia to stop Wardley, I think Opetaia is too dynamic for him.

 

Wardley won’t see which way Opetaia went. Jai literally dances around Wardley and lands at will. Wardley’s hands aren’t quick and by the time he gets his lumbering shots off, Opetaia will be in a different postcode (zipcode for my American friends).

Basically Opetaia beats Wardley like a redheaded stepchild.

 

Opetaia is phenomenal...........................but I'm not picking someone who has no history at HW, until he has at least some history at HW. I didn't even do that for Usyk.

 

I think folks have this misconception that since Usyk did it other cruisers can do. If this is true they would be doing it, there’s way more money at Heavy.

 

I thought Opetaia took a step back in his rematch with Bredis and looked cautious and hurt by his shots. I think Wardley could do the same. Opetai decision or Wardley KO

 

It's a bit of a silly question when Jai hasn't even stepped up yet.

Wardley isn't mega proven in terms of depth, but he's beaten a top heavyweight (albeit one fighting like a ******) whilst Jai hasn't even fought one.


It's a non-question... For me, questions like this should have a "there's not enough to base an opinion on" option on the poll - and it ought to win by a landslide.