Prime Gassiev vs Opetaia at cruiserweight

Opetaia.

 

I see Gassiev clipping Opetaia at some point. But would Jai get up?

 

Opetaia has the skills to outbox him, but he probably gets sucked into a war and sparked.

 

Gassiev was second or third best in a very good CW era. Opetaia is a very good CW in a poor era. Giving Gassiev the benefit of the doubt is hard not to do here. It would likely be a grueling war, maybe even a FOTY candidate.

 

Opetaia is too technical at his best and he has KO power this is a bigger mismatch than people think

 

Nothing whatsoever suggests it would be a mismatch. Gassiev went toe to toe with much better fighters in his prime.

 

I'd be very sure that Gassiev knocks him out.

Gassiev was an absolute beast in his prime at cruiserweight, when the division was at it's strongest ever.

 

I like Gassiev here, fought better fighters more consistently and has power in both hands with body punching

 

This is a lot closer than our newbie fans would think. Opetaia is the better boxer, but Gassiev had tremendous balance, great chin and insane stamina at cruiser. If a KO was to happen, he’d be the one to score it.

 

This. Opetaia likes to go to war, Gassiev sparked some solid chinned fighters.

 

Opetaia in a war.

Cracker of a matchup.

 

This the type of fight where Opetaia actually uses his brain instead of throwing his giant Samoan balls in the middle of the ring and saying lets dance. Id expect Opetaia to box to a decision. Go trade leather for leather with Gassiev and then text me when you wake up.

 

The only much better fighter he fought was Usyk and he didn't go toe to toe with him really. He got shut out basically lost every round.

Dorticos could be better than Jai but certainly not "much" better. No one else Gassiev fought had a case for being much better than Opeitia.