DAZN: Jai Tapuloa Opetaia vs. Giuseppe Claudio Squeo RBR

I guess it would be kinda cool if he carved out a solid Cruiserweight legacy, instead of chasing Heavyweight gold. It kinda sucks how a lot of the better Cruiserweights so often move up for the money.

 

Rumors are that its close to being made. I predicted years ago that Zurdo would be the one making unification fights happen at Cruiser, and I am happy to boast about that prediction.
Unfortunately for Zurdo, Opetaia might be the one guy in the division whom he can´t beat.

 

Opetaia seems to be saying he'll climb into the ring and call Zurdo out after Zurdo's forthcoming BS time-waster bout on the Jake Paul undercard. Hope he does. Stop ducking, Zurdo. Take the $$.

 

Zurdo has to deal with his mandatory, it´s not his fault. Show Zurdo some respect: he fought for a title in his second fight at Cruiser, and then immediately unified in the following fight. Now he has a mandatory to deal with, yet you talk about ducking.

 

I actually agree so much, it’s a placeholder division and fighters never get there credit for what they achieve at cruiserweight, it would be refreshing to see some dominant it and just never move up. Especially if that guy isn’t built for heavyweight.

 

Opetaia could have finished him in the first round but he wanted to do a few more rounds which is good for him...

 

opetaia vs rameriz will be a fun war if it happens.

 

Yeah, he has to fight Dorticos.

 

I believe you can hear Opetaia tell the ref, "I broke his jaw".... Gnarly.

 

Caught the replay. Jai did what he had to do against an atrocity of an opponent choice. Props to him though for choosing to stay in shape and being active while he waits for Zurdo.

 

Yes, but every 2-beltholder always has a mandatory, yes? And just as often as not, promoters have to make a deal (or a payoff) with the governing bodies and the mandatory challenger -- frankly, to intervene -- in order to squeeze in the unification fight the fans actually want. We see it all the time. The promoters grease the right palms and promise the unification winner will face each organization's mandatories for their next bouts (or to relinquish the belts).

If Zurdo and his people really were ready and willing to face Opetaia, they'd help get it done... not constantly hide behind the mandatories excuse. In the 4-belt era, if you do that, unifications never happen....

 

I'm sorry, but how many unifications has Opetaia had?
You are holding Zurdo to a ridiculous standard here. The WBA ordered the Dorticos title defense after Zurdo beat Goulamirian back in 2024, but they allowed him to unify with CBS. Zurdo is now honoring the mandatory order, and he is actively negotiating with Opetaia.

Zurdo is doing literally everything right here, but he is the one labeled as a duck and being criticized! Absolutely baffling.
Opetaia didn´t challenge Goulamirian. He didn´t challenge CBS. He did not try to make a fight with Mikaeljan, but fans suck him off regardless.