Prime Gassiev vs Opetaia at cruiserweight

I haven't seen much of Gassiev but I thought he was very disappointing when he faced Usyk. He had home court advantage & didn't fire a shot. He didn't look like a #2 at Cruiserweight based on that performance. He looked like a physically strong, hard punching type who was seriously deficient in the skills department. Opetaia qualified for an Olympics as a 16-year-old & lost 12-11 on the scorecards to a guy who made the World Championships final the previous year. So he's got some skills. As a biased Australian, I think there are fighters out there who would give Opetaia a much harder fight than a 'prime' Gassiev. So I don't get accused of anti-Russian bias again, Beterbiev for example. I'd favour prime Beterbiev over Jai but not Gassiev. Prime Beterbiev could dish it, take it & was no slouch in the skills department.

 

Well, other than there's no guarantee that he can make it at heavy... And no saying that he gets a meaningful title fight at heavy as things stand, either.

It's not without risk to move up is what I'm getting at.

 

I'm not sure TBH.

Gassiev is a hard puncher and Opetaia's face seems to get broken up quite frequently.

I'd give the slight edge to Opetaia but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

https://www.sporf.com/murat-gassiev...iesta-reveals-all-ahead-of-potential-rematch/

I'm not dissing Jai at all ll--I'm hoping he abandons the cruisers and starts fulfilling his destiny at heavy, but Gassiev has been plagued by injuries, apparently even before the Usyk fight.

One thing I find interesting about the thread is that is that it is asking about "prime Gassiev." He's 32 years old...two years older than Opetaia. He is so injury-plagued people believe he is past it though he is essentially of the same generation. But turn that around, and he has accomplished a great deal more being a unified cruiserweight champ, and now a successful heavy. That shows that Jai really has to start playing catch-up, here.

Also, Gassiev just won his most important fight since 2018, and won twice in the same year since 2016. Now that he has a belt, such as it is, good opponents will seek him out.

Good luck to both these fine competitors. Jai has to find big fights, and Murat has to stay healthy. As to who would win, either man. Classic "different fight, different night" match-up where a lot of things could happen.

 

Gassiev beats Bumpetaia

 

Gassiev was kinda struggling with a 50 yr old Pulev until the KO shot. Gassiev is 32, he is not more past it than Pulev despite what people want to claim. It's okay, Opetaia will become heavyweight champion and surpass Gassiev

 

I don't even have a dog in that fight because I wish Jai well, but he is going to have to move to heavyweight to win a heavyweight championship. Gassiev might very well be elevated into being the sole WBA champ if Usyk chooses to relinquish that belt, too, and that would out Opetaia pretty far behind in that race.

 

Then he'll be food when Opetaia moves up, or anyone else in the top 10

 

Again, we have seen no indication that is going to happen. Nor would it be any sort of a walkover.

 

Gassiev will get stopped by Jai, you heard it first here

 

Oh god. I can see it now. Usyk vacated, Gassiev elevated, Ituama gets the belt, then Usyk vs Ituama?

 

Still wouldn’t mind seeing this now, Gassiev has struggled at heavyweight because his style and attributes aren’t suited for a Crusierweight moving up to Heavyweight.

If he gets his ass back down to Crusierweight, he’s only 32, he’d have those advantages again, take the weight off slowly in the gym, don’t crash diet and he should be fine, get 2 fights against solid contenders.

This would still be great fight.

 

I guess I'll be the house on Iron.

 

Opetaia appears to be a good fighter.

However, with tthe exception of 2 fights against a faded Briedis, Opetaia fights low level opponents.
Opetaia is 30 yrs old. He needs to step up now and face better competition.

Another one similar to Opetaia, is Janibek.
Janibek appears to be a good fighter on paper but has fought only low level opponents.