Opetaia should move to the heavyweight division.

He's been a pro for 10 years.

I received a disk a dozen years ago from a trading partner of Opetaia fighting a bunch of guys as an amateur. He's been on the radar FOR A WHILE now.

He'll be 30 in June. Guys used to retire at 32. If he wants to stay at cruiserweight, that's fine. If he feels the heavyweights are too big for him, fine.

But can we skip the "don't rush him" stuff?

He's in his prime.

I wish more of them would RUSH, frankly.

I'm kinda sick of the era that's winding down of boxers not fighting until they're nearing or at the end of their careers. You can fight each other in your 20s and fight several more times after that. They all don't have to wait until retirement is approaching.

Top heavyweights in their 20s fighting each other used to be the norm. Now, top heavyweights who are 38 or 40 fighting each other is the norm.

Do us all a favor and start RUSHING these guys. Opetaia isn't "green." He's a 10-year pro with an extensive amateur background. He's peaking or already there.

Rush a little.

 

I didn't realize he was that old. The good news is HWs tend to mature later than the lighter guys.

He has time to improve.

He doesn't look that polished to me. Good power and decent skills.

When I judge his boxing skills compared to an Usyk, Tyson Fury, Lennox, Vlad, .... he comes up short.

You better be able to box at HW. Those guys hit hard and the punching won't all be one way.

Rush him and you have Tim Tszyu 2.0

 

So he's clearly an excellent fighter then?

 

He's been a pro for 10 years.

He barely missed out on making the 2012 Olympic team, the same Olympics Joshua, Usyk and Beterbiev competed in.

How many decades do you have to be a pro for it not to be considered "rushing?"

He's in his prime.

I'd rather see him fight big names now rather than wait five years, and people go ... well, he's 35 now, he was better when he was younger.

He's an exciting fighter. He's in his prime. If he can still get better, GREAT. Get better while you're fighting better guys.

 

Well his next fight is probably against Zurdo Ramirez. That's a good step for him.

I agree he should not be fighting pineapple cans like his last opponent.

 

I can't like this enough. Well said.

 

Zurdo Ramirez is a good opponent. And I don't mind if Jai stays at cruiserweight. He's exciting. I like watching him.

It's the "don't rush him" stuff - when we're talking about a veteran fighter - that irritates me.

If you're in your prime, fight.

 

My thoughts on him if he does want to go to heavy, fight Zurdo NEXT, then take on someone like Jermaine Franklin or Dave Allen and see if heavy is a good fit for him. If not go back to cruiser, if so immediately go for a couple of guys in the top 20, then go to the top ten and title shots

 

Right.

Not so long ago, amateur prospects had like four or five years to make a big move as a pro and get a title shot. After that, people tended to think your career was stalled.

Now there's a whole slew of 30 year olds who have been pros forever ... and people are like, don't rush them.

RUSH them all.

 

I understand your point and it is a good one.

Watching a couple of his fights, I think he'll do better to stay at CW where he can use his physicality.

I look forward to that Ramirez fight.

 

I disagree. Dave Allen?

If his team doesn't think Jai can beat Dave Allen, then stay at cruiserweight.

You've got to reach higher than that. You're the Ring Cruiserweight champ.

Does anyone think Jai couldn't walk out and beat 40-something Pulev right now and grab a belt?

Jai is peaking. Pulev peaked a full decade ago.

Zurdo Ramirez is a fine opponent. If you can beat him, unify another belt, then you certainly can manage Dave Allen.

If he doesn't want to fight heavyweights, that's fine, too. But enough dicking around when it comes to moving up and wasting more time fighting scrubs.

Spinks moved up and fought Holmes. Jones moved up and fought Ruiz. Pulev isn't as good as either Holmes or Ruiz.

If you're going to make a move, and you're in your prime, MAKE A MOVE.

 

Yea if your 19 years old you don't need to be moved into fighting top ten guys to start your career. That is being rushed

If your 30 years old, you need to be rushed because your physical prime is fleeting and one injury or contract dispute can kill off another year or two of your career

 

Me, too.

 

Right.

 

Yes I just tossed Allen's name out there as a guy who's durable and he can dip his toe into the heavy waters to see if he likes the temperature. But your right, probably bypass that and go straight to top twenty or top ten guys and see if he has it.