Jai Opetaia will make the move to heavyweight, at least for one fight, when he takes on Deontay Wilder next month. Modern great Terence Crawford has weighed in on each man’s chances of victory.
Opetaia is undefeated in 31 with 24 knockouts and is a two-time IBF cruiserweight world champion, losing the belt on both occasions due to politics rather than competition.
Despite having a verbal agreement to face unified 200lbs champion David Benavidez next May, Opetaia has opted to take a dangerous next fight in the form of Wilder, who, despite showing clear signs of being past his best, carries one of the most powerful right hands perhaps in the history of the sport.
The former long-reigning WBC heavyweight champion is coming off a rare points win over Derek Chisora, and has warned Opetaia that power in the sport’s top division is on a different level compared to cruiserweight.
It’s a verdict that Crawford, who retired last year as an undefeated five-weight world champion, shares, although he told Seconds Out he also sees a path to victory for Opetaia, essentially deeming it a 50/50 affair.
“That’s a tough one. I think both of them can win that fight. If Deontay catch Jai with one of those bomb right hands, Jai could be in trouble. At the same time, right now where Wilder’s at in his career, I think Jai can do the same.”
The fight takes place on the undercard of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua’s overdue heavyweight clash in Cardiff on December 11. A win for Wilder builds a good run of form as he targets more big nights under the lights. At 41, defeat could spell retirement.
Opetaia, meanwhile, has the chance to add a major name to his record and prove that, when he does finally settle at heavyweight in the future, he can hang with the biggest punchers.
