The Cruiserweight division was rocked today by the announcement that Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez will defend his WBO and WBA World Titles against David Benavidez on May 2. The matchup has generated headlines — but it has also generated eye-rolling frustration across the boxing world.
Because once again, Zurdo has chosen anyone except the man he’s been avoiding for years: Jai Opetaia.
Opetaia — the undefeated IBF and Ring Magazine World Champion and universally recognised No. 1 Cruiserweight on the planet — returns on December 6 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre to defend his belts against mandatory challenger Huseyin Cinkara. The Ring Magazine title is the most prestigious championship in boxing history, and December 6 will mark the eighth consecutive fight in which Opetaia defends that crown — a testament to his absolute dominance.
Yet despite being the yardstick, the benchmark, and the man every fighter is measured against, unification bouts with the other belt-holders still haven’t materialised.
“I’ve been waiting for the unification fights for years,” Opetaia said. “I’m sick of the excuses. None of these other champions are in a hurry to face me — and we all know why.”
Michael Francis of Tasman Fighters, promoter of Opetaia, pulled no punches.
“We’re witnessing a great champion being avoided in broad daylight. These so-called champions won’t even say his name. Jai is the boogeyman of the Cruiserweight division.
“Masternak ducked him.
Riakporhe ducked him.
Billam-Smith ducked him.
And Zurdo Ramirez has ducked him in the biggest, most embarrassing way of all.”
Francis continued:
“Let’s be real: all roads at Cruiserweight go through Jai Opetaia. This Ramirez–Benavidez fight is nothing more than a contest to see who’s the SECOND-best Cruiserweight in the world.”
“Zurdo’s camp had the nerve to demand US$8 million to fight Jai. They might as well have said, ‘No chance — we don’t want that smoke.’ That would’ve been more honest.
“Jai isn’t chasing money — he’s chasing greatness. He wants these guys to grow some balls and step up.”
Jai Opetaia is one of the most feared world champions in the history of the Cruiserweight division.
And he remains ready, willing and waiting for any of these other title holders to step up.
