Opetaia vs Itauma

Its a 50-50 fight. Neither guy has been in with a fellow southpaw who can hit hard and has fast hands.

Opetaia has leaky defense so if he goes for the ko early, he could get stopped himself. But if Jai is careful early, i think he stops Moses late. Jai has seen the later rounds of a fight. Moses hasn't.

 

It would probably be a competitive fight, although there are still many unknowns with Itauma.

 

Jai might be a couple of inches shorter, but he doesn't have the frame for HW I think he'd struggle moving up, but I do rate him highly.

 

Opetaia would need time to adjust at Heavyweight and to see how he does with the extra weight. He apparently walks around at ~218lbs and doesn't blow up between camps, so the weight jump shouldn't be too crazy.

Even though Opetaia says making weight is easy for him, I think the extra size would do him good in the energy and chin department as I suspect he is a little bit drained at Cruiserweight.

Talking styles, Opetaia is more proven and we have seen him dig deep to grind out a win. We can't say the same for Itauma. If Opetaia gets through the first couple rounds I see him grinding out the UD or TKO.

Opetaia is experienced and skilled enough to get through the first couple rounds and warm up into the fight, but he does have a tendency to trade and take a shot to land a shot. So they might get into a brawl which could favour the big and stronger Itauma.

 

Opetaia will be a big success at HW if he is good at HW as he is at CW and these things have happened before.

But its so hard to answer this question when he hasn't fought at HW but at the same time Opetaia has proved he can really dig deep to win with a broken jaw against a seasoned vet in Briedis, but Itauma's speed and power is a different level to Briedis.

But lets just say if Opetaia is just as good at HW, as he is at CW - then I'd back Opetaia to beat Itauma. And thats me being hypothetical still.

 

Moses walks around at a natural 245lbs, around 30lbs heavier than Opetaia also Itauma would have a 3” reach advantage, so it isn’t just about the 2” height difference

 

Huh? Jai is 6'1 at best and a lean 200 with narrow shoulders. He is way too small and lacks durability even at LHW, how on earth can he be 50/50 with Moses?

 

Lol, how on earth could Usyk beat Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua ? He's way too small.....

 

Usyk is a jacked 230lbs, and has a natural HW frame. Jai does not. Jai v Moses being a 50/50 is one of the most laughable takes I have heard in a long time.

 

Jai said he walks around 215 lbs on fight night if I remember correctly. Usyk was 220 lbs when beating Joshua

 

Usyk was 217 against Chisora and 221/223 against joshua and fury. Usyk is naturally smaller than that and bulked up.

 

Itauma also carries about an extra 20lbs of fat on his frame.

He will have a size advantage, but not as much as people make out.

 

We need more info on Ituama

 

pretty impressive to have Whyte on the resume at 20 though.. Tyson Furys best win at 20 was a 3-9 guy