Hearn predicts the “all-time classic”: Opetaia vs. Usyk in 18 months?

Eddie Hearn says IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia will potentially challenge Oleksandr Usyk for his world heavyweight titles in “12 to 18 months” with the help of “Turki Al-Shiekh’s money.”

Hearn revealed that the plan is to increase Opetaia’s “credibility” by making him the undisputed cruiserweight champion first by capturing the WBA, WBC and WBO belts from Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and Badou Jack. Once Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) does that, he will move up to heavyweight to challenge Usyk for his belts if he is not retired or defeated by someone before then.

Skip the line?

There is something disheartening about Opetaia being given a title shot in his first fight at heavyweight without at least fighting in a title eliminator or without one of the top contenders hoping to compete for a world title. When a fighter gets a direct title shot without even competing in the division first, boxing seems less like a real sport and more about popularity and money.

As good as Opetaia looked on Wednesday night, knocking out David Nyika (10-1, 9 KOs) in the fourth round at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, in Queensland, Australia, it’s hard to imagine him defeating contenders from heavyweight like Martin Bakole. .

18 month plan

“Jai is going to collect all the cruiserweight belts to become undisputed, and then we want to push him into a fight against Oleksandr Usyk in the heavyweight division to try to become undisputed as well,” Eddie Hearn told DAZNtalking about wanting Jai Opetaia to pick up all the cruiserweight titles and then move up to heavyweight to do the same there.

“I think he is the only person at cruiserweight or heavyweight who can really give Oleksandr Usyk a real fight, but to do that, we first have to get all the belts at cruiserweight to give him His Excellency’s credibility and money. to bring Oleksandr Usyk into the ring.

“Believe me, in 12 to 18 months, Jai Opetaia vs. Oleksandr Usyk will be an all-time classic,” Hearn said.

Opetaia could fall apart when he faces WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs). That’s a big step up from the likes of Nyika and a faded Mairis Briedis. He could lose to Zurdo, which would ruin Hearn’s vision of him rising to challenge Usyk.

In the case of Usyk. He could retire soon or be defeated by IBF champion Daniel Dubois. Usyk won’t wait for Opetaia to collect all the cruiserweight belts before fighting again. He will remain active and one of the obvious fights that could happen next is a rematch with Dubois.

Oleksandr was lucky not to be knocked out in their fight on August 26, 2023. He was knocked down by what appeared to be a legal body shot, but the referee ruled it a low blow. Replays showed it was on the center line. Dubois will focus on Usyk’s body in a rematch, knowing he is weak there.