‘One of the best on the planet’: Aussie star sends brutal message

Australian superstar Jai Opetaia has sent a devastating message to the boxing world after scoring a hellacious win on Sunday.

Jai Opetaia delivered a hellacious statement on Sunday. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Jai Opetaia is the real deal.

The Australian superstar who was stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title after he elected to take the major payday to appear on the card in Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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His frustration with the decision to take away his belt came out on Sunday morning (AEDT) on the Day of Reckoning mega-card with Ellis Zorro on the receiving end.

After the pair exchanged some shots in the opening round, Opetaia launched forward in the latter stages with a nuclear left hook that landed clean on the button.

The shot sent Zorro crashing straight back to the canvas with his neck landing on the bottom rope.

The left hook that ended the fight. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

The end result. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

“I trained for 12 rounds, but if the knockout comes, it comes,” Opetaia said after his latest victory.

“He was very hesitant, but he was a bit too hesitant and he got clipped. That’s the way it goes.

“I did [take some of the week’s frustration out in the ring], but look at this place. I’m happy to be here,” Opetaia says.

“I’m pumped, first round knockout, I’m ready for the next fight.

“The last 18 months is all part of the journey.

“It’s all built to where I am now and I’m excited for the next step.

“These dudes put the people in front of me and I knock them out.”

Jai Opetaia With Another KO‼️#Boxing#DayOfReckoningpic.twitter.com/pBeFJLr0NF

— AccordingToBoxing (@AccordToBoxing) December 23, 2023

Jai Opetaia drills Ellis Zorro in the closing seconds of the opening Round 1. Sharp left hand levels Zorro, whose head appeared to bang off the canvas. Spectacular KO for the world’s best cruiserweight. Serious talent.

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) December 23, 2023

Jai Opetaia knocks out Ellis Zorro in round one to defend his Ring Magazine cruiserweight belt. Ruthless one-punch KO.

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) December 23, 2023

Promoter Eddie Hearn was full of praise for the Aussie and predicted a big move up to the heavyweight division.

“I believe Jai can do the same thing [as Oleksandr Usyk],” Hearn says.

“I would like to see him become undisputed in the cruiserweight before he moves up to heavyweight.

“And that is inevitable, this is one of the most exciting fighters on the planet.

“He’s one of the best fighters on the planet.”

Former English cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew simply said in DAZN commentary: “Jai Opetaia is a bad man.”

“I am not sure any of the cruiserweight guys beat him,” Bellew said while calling the fight.

“They have the power to knock Jai out but actually putting it into play and beating him, I am not too sure.

“His shot that closed the show was thunderous. The left hand upstairs … he made sure he did not miss.

“The commitment to the shot was spot on. It was devastating and scary.

“Jai Opetaia is a bad man.

“In any weight division at any level that’s as clinical as it gets in this sport.

“Jai opetaia is some talent.“

Originally published as ‘One of the best on the planet’: Aussie star sends brutal message