Eager to not be forgotten, IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia today reminded Gilberto Ramirez, the WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion, that only one fight needs to take place at 200 lbs in 2025.
It was an important, timely reminder and one that comes just a week after Ramirez successfully defended his belts against Cuba’s Yuniel Dorticos via 12-round decision. Also on that bill was Jake Paul, another cruiserweight, whose win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr was apparently all that was required to land him a WBA ranking and move him a step closer to challenging Ramirez, on whom he has set his sights.
As for Opetaia, he was last seen stopping Claudio Squeo in the fifth round of a mismatch last month. After that win, which left Squeo with a broken jaw, the Australian made a point of mentioning Ramirez’s name in his post-fight interview and the fight – a unification of three belts – seemed a natural one to make next. All Ramirez had to do was beat Dorticos and a date and location wouldn’t be too far behind, one hoped.
Then Jake Paul became a possibility for Ramirez and suddenly Opetaia remembered that dollars will always trump duty. Suddenly, thanks to the WBA, there was a chance for Ramirez to be the active professional boxer who finally decides to call Jake Paul’s bluff and actually agree to meet him in a ring and fight him. Suddenly there was a fear that he, Opetaia, might be the one forgotten in all this.
Whether a true concern of his or not, Opetaia took to social media today (July 5) to write, “I’m coming for my belts,” and accompanied the message with a fight poster featuring the two of them: Opetaia and Ramirez. More revealing, though, was the poster’s tagline, “The Only Fight Needed,” which suggests Opetaia is aware of and slightly perturbed by the prospect of Ramirez capitalising on Paul’s ego and generous ranking to make easy money. It suggests that Opetaia feels Ramirez needs reminding of his duty.
Of course, if the shoe was on the other foot, there’s every chance Opetaia would be entertaining Paul the same way. He too might be flirting with the idea of putting a cash cow out of its misery and he too might be indulging the American’s fantasies. But if you’re not in the Jake Paul business, and Opetaia is not, it must be difficult to just sit and watch as popularity opens doors and creates opportunities at your expense.
Opetaia, you see, isn’t just deserving of a big fight in 2025, he is perhaps in need of one. Now 28-0 (22), it has been a while since he was really tested as IBF champion and, though he continues to improve and impress with each fight, there has long been a sense that the 30-year-old is due his moment to shine. He has, unlike Jake Paul, earned it.
