But first he must get through Cinkara.
“Just another day in the office,” Opetaia said. “Just looking to put on a clinic.”
For Cinkara, at the age of 40, it is the last chance to take down a big name. For Opetaia, 10 years his junior, there are bigger paydays ahead if he can come through unscathed.
Ring of Fire fight card
- Jai Opetaia v Huseyin Cinkara: IBF and The Ring world cruiserweight titles
- Max McIntyre v Jed Morris: WBC Australasian super middleweight title
- Jake Wyllie v Paul Fleming
- Teremoana Teremoana v German Garcia Montes
- Benny Mahoney v Winston Hill: IBF Pan Pacific super welterweight title
- Jason Moloney v Herlan Gomez: WBC Australasian bantamweight title
- Jack Gregory v Hayden Emmerson: IBF youth middleweight world title
“We actually offered Cinkara more money to step aside than what we did to fight,” said Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis. “He thinks he will knock Jai out. He’s delusional.”
Opetaia is perhaps Australia’s best-kept sporting secret. While he is respected by the boxing fraternity and feared by his opponents, he isn’t a household name in Australia. That could well change if he becomes the unified cruiserweight champion and has similar success as a heavyweight but, for now, the biggest challenge is finding willing opponents.
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“The money that Ramirez is asking for is pie in the sky stuff,” Francis said.
“Ramirez does not want to fight Jai. He’s 36 years old, he’s got a young family, he’s a Mexican superstar over there, he makes a lot of money in endorsements.
“Why would he end his career with a hiding from Jai Opetaia?
“He wouldn’t have made $8 million in his whole career.
“Benavidez, they call him a monster and he is a different beast. I think he will take the fight with Jai. He isn’t scared of anyone. He’s not as old as Ramirez, he’s virtually the Mexican version of Jai Opetaia. He’s an animal, and he’s not scared of any man.”
Ring of Fire: Opetaia v Cinkara will take place on Saturday, December 6, with the main card live from 6pm (AEDT). Order now on Stan pay-per-view.
