Opetaia vs current Itauma

The Opetai love is insane, a 50 year old Breidis gave him all he could handle and he’s struggled with a few obscure opponents. Sparking out a few 9-5 jobbers doesn’t impress me.

 

I think the love is well deserved. Maybe it is not always rational, but I am pretty happy when fighters like opetaia get at least the recognition of the hardcores.

He is willing to fight anyone. He fights through a broken jaw. He is super offensive and can not have a bad fight. He has great technique and optimizes for offense.

And he gets ****ed by big boxing business. If he was being treated like joshua or haney he would be undisputed and already moved up to heavy...

Being treated like he is (more like early crawford) makes him very likeable to me. Underdog Bonus!

 

Itauma is too big and agile, Jai is an excellent CW, but Itauma is too big and too skilled, power from angles he wouldn't see. I do think Jai could beat some top-10 HWs. I think he could beat Wardley and probably give Dubois a horrible night, but Itauma is too fresh and big.

 

Remind me who Itauma has beaten.

 

This.

 

If Opetaia is as good at HW as he is at CW, then he beats Itauma now.

 

It seems to be taking away people’s objectivity.

 

A convincing victory over Whyte is a great victory, I would say...

 

It’s decent but Opetaia’s first win over Briedis is better than that.

 

I agree with you, but I think Itauma is too big and too strong for Opetaia...

 

Probably, but when is anyone ever really objective about the things they are passionate about?
Fury was hyped, Joshua was hyped, even Usyk, no matter how good he is, is hyped right now. In actuality he is probably not unbeatable. But to me and most he seems that way.

I think there is a significant probability that opetaia could beat itauma. Experience speaks for him. He should have the edge in speed and stamina. And he would probably fight itauma pretty differently from how he usually fights. And he can box.

So who knows and who is to say they are objective?

And in any case: passion over objectivity in my book anyday. I don't think wardley is great but the passion he brings to the sport and the fans supporting him is what gives boxing life

 

Just the Whyte fight

 

And that fight made you think he is slow?

 

Compared to lighter experienced champ, yes

There is no basis to trash legit proven champion over unproven hyped up contender

When Itauma beats someone in top 10 we will revise

 

What lighter experienced champ are you referring to?

Nobody is being trashed here BTW

But regardless Itauma is definitely not slow