Jai Opetaia vs Joseph Parker

Parker smashes him. Opetaia actually has to make weight for the HW division first.

 

If it happened now, Parker would win. If it happens into the future, Opetaia a good chance.

 

Parker.

Jai struggling with Briedis corpse doesn't bode too well for stepping up to a much bigger man who's in his prime.

It's not easy to go from cruiser to heavy - Usyk may have made it look easy, but it's typically only truly generational talents that can be successful at the top of the heavyweight division after competing at cruiser...
Jai might be one of those exceptions, but it's hard to tell with the division being relatively thin right now - the inability to dominate Breidis in a declined state isn't promising, but there's not too much special talent to prove otherwise against.

Parkers only 3.5 years older - he's more shopworn having been taking hard fights for much longer, but this could easily end up being one that Jai could never win.

 

Jai is good but not exceptional. A good big guy will always beat a good lil guy. His power won't worry Parker who's eaten heavier punches from Zhang, Wilder, and AJ

 

Uce vs Uce.

 

Opetaia isn't little.

 

He already makes weight for the HW division. He likely fights around 215lbs on the night.

 

I think people are getting hyped on Parker. Yes, Parker is no.4 or so in the HW rankings after his last 2 performances, but I don’t think he is the 4th best current HW. I’d favour Kabayel over Parker right now. Parker deserves his current ranking, but his wins are over big names who have serious limitations. Parker also executed brilliant game plans in both of those outings.
With Opoteia, he has a whole host of problems to deal with. Faster hands, southpaw and maybe above all, the footwork of Opoteia.
Opoteia’s done 24 rounds, had his jaw broken by Breidis, who is a real banger. I don’t think Parker’s power is going to be enough here.
Bottom line, Parker would need to work here and Opoteia’s athleticism will be too much.

 

Parker.

 

Big difference between 215 and 250. We'd need to see him have a tune up or two at HW to see if he can handle it, let alone beating the #4 of the division.

 

If Parker can take Zhang's power what's Opetaia going to do to him? Going 24 rounds and getting busted up by another Cruiserweight (first broken jaw, second busted nose) isn't exactly reassuring when you're next step is heavyweight. He will get caught eventually and Parker can pop when he wants to.

I agree fighting a mobile Southpaw might throw Parker off a bit, but Opetaia needs a little more experience before I'd consider him competitive at HW.

 

Usyk, Wilder, Opetaia are all small. HW only struggle with movement and gas tank. I don't think he move enough not to get caught with a heavy flush

For now, I'd still go with Parker, will just have to jump ship if things turned out the other way. Jumping ship is easy for me. Lol

 

Briedis was no corpse I reckon he still beats every other cruiser besides Opetaia.