Fight eve health scare revealed as Jai Opetaia rips shreds off ‘disrespectful’ American star

A visit to the hospital for Jai Opetaia’s father has been downplayed ahead of the Aussie world champion’s IBF cruiserweight title defence, while he did take aim at an American boxing star.

Jai Opetaia has laughed off a fight eve health scare after his dad and trainer, Tapu, went to hospital with chest pains on Friday night.

Meanwhile, the Aussie took a swipe at American boxing star Keyshawn Davis, calling the lightweight “a f***in’ joke” for missing weight by nearly two kilograms in the US this weekend.

Tapu had a check-up and scans just hours ahead of the weigh-ins for Opetaia’s IBF cruiserweight world title defence against Claudio Squeo on the Gold Coast.

Martin ‘Tapu’ Opetaia was sent to hospital on Friday night. Picture: Supplied

Opetaia has spoken about the incident. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Tapu is also Jai’s head trainer, and was in hospital from 7:30pm on Friday until around 2am on Saturday as he waited to be seen.

Speaking after Saturday afternoon’s weigh-ins, where he tipped the scales at 90.45kg, Opetaia confirmed there was a slight hiccup.

“He’s all good, man, he had a little bit of chest pain,” Opetaia told CODE Sports. “It’s all good.

“We were making jokes about him being soft this morning, so it’s all good.

“Every father-son (relationship) is important, but there’s the coach relationship as well. They’re two different things, and we try to balance that.”

Tapu was back in action on Saturday and will still work Opetaia’s corner on Sunday night.

Eyebrows were raised on Saturday when Squeo weighed in at just 86.7kg – a full four kilograms under the cruiserweight limit.

Squeo weighs-in ahead of the fight against Opetaia. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

A big underdog, Squeo is already giving up a 10cm height advantage, and Opetaia said he was surprised that the Italian weighed so little.

“I was a little bit, but it is what it is,” Opetaia said. “But all these fights are dangerous, man.

“Every time I step into the ring and put my world title on the line, it’s dangerous.

“Especially against these guys with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“He’s a little bomber that comes forward and wants to make it ugly. It’s all dangerous fights.”

Jai Opetaia and Claudio Squeo face off during the weigh-in. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Opetaia took a massive swipe at took a swipe at American boxing star Keyshawn Davis. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Opetaia launched a searing attack at American boxing sensation Keyshawn Davis, who missed weight by a whopping 1.95kg ahead of his scheduled WBO lightweight world title defence against Edwin De Los Santos in Virginia.

The fight was eventually cancelled altogether, leaving a fired-up Opetaia furious.

“I reckon that’s f***in’ bullshit, coming in and not making weight like that,” he fumed. “Especially if the other guy is really draining himself and you’re not even taking it serious.

“That’s a f****n’ joke.

“It’s disrespectful to the sport.

“I don’t know what the consequences should be, but it’s very unfair.”

Originally published as Fight eve health scare revealed as Jai Opetaia rips shreds off ‘disrespectful’ American star