Boxing news 2023: Australia’s Jai Opetaia def Ellis Zorro in Saudi Arabia first-round knockout
There’s a new heavyweight contender in world boxing – and his name is Jai Opetaia, with the Australian producing a thunderous display to rock the world of his shell-shocked opponent.
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Jai Opetaia has been hailed a future heavyweight world champion and one of the greatest fighters on the planet after the Australian assassin shocked the boxing world in Saudi Arabia.
The classy southpaw had billionaire Saudi sheiks in raptures on Sunday morning (AEDT) after producing a savage first-round knockout of Englishman Ellis Zorro to steal the show on a stacked card of heavyweight superstars at Riyadh.
Opetaia needed just 176 seconds to brutalise Zorro, morphing into a Middle East mauler as he unleashed a thunderous left hook which sent his previously unbeaten opponent flying to the canvas and almost out of the ring.
The punch – and the sight of a concussed Zorro staring blankly at the ceiling – will send shockwaves through the boxing fraternity.
Opetaia ruthlessly stood up on the ropes as the count was still going on and raised his hands to the air as if to say to every rival in the boxing land: “Don’t mess with me.”
The 28-year-old Aussie has truly, brutally, arrived as a global boxing superstar.
Former English cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew simply said in DAZN commentary: “Jai Opetaia is a bad man.”
The Kingdom Arena was left in equal spades of shock, wonder and awe as Opetaia continued his trail of pugilistic destruction, advancing to a perfect 24-0 record with 19 stoppages to show why he is one of the best athletes in Australian sport.
It was an emotional build-up for Opetaia, who was forced to give up the cruiserweight world title he broke his jaw winning last year after IBF authorities refused to sanction the Zorro bout.
Opetaia pocketed around $680,000 for defying IBF bosses by taking the Zorro fight and after this performance, it is only a matter of time before the deposed world champion fights back to unify the cruiserweight division.
“These guys (promoters) put the people in front of me and I knock them out,” Opetaia said after hammering Zorro (17-1).
“He was very hesitant, he wasn’t engaging much.
“He was too hesitant and got clipped. That’s how it goes.
“I train for 12 rounds and if the knockout comes, it comes.”
Asked if sacrificing the world title had motivated him to bash Zorro, Opetaia said: “It did … but look at this place, it’s beautiful and I’m happy to perform in front of the Saudi people.
“This is my first knockout (in Saudi Arabia)
“The last 18 months (breaking his jaw and giving up his IBF world title) is part of
the journey, but I am here and in the ring.
“I am excited for the next step.”
In his second fight back from his broken jaw heroics on the Gold Coast in July 2022, Opetaia was watchful in the opening minute against an equally unbeaten opponent.
But at the 90-second mark, the Gold Coast-based slugger landed a powerful left to set the tone.
Zorro replied with a nice right shot with 20 seconds left in the round, but 15 seconds later, Opetaia unleashed a devastating left hook which sent the Englishman crashing to the canvas.
Opetaia is challenging Tim Tszyu (also 24-0) as Australia’s greatest current fighter and his promoter, Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, said the Central Coast powerhouse can one day become the greatest fighter in the sport.
“You are talking about a pound-for-pound talent,” Hearn said.
“Oleksandr Usyk became undisputed in the cruiserweight division, then moved up and became unified in the heavyweight division.
“I believe Jai will do exactly the same the thing.
“We all know Jai should be standing here as the IBF world champion but it doesn’t matter because every fight fan knows he is the no 1 cruiserweight in the world.
“I would like to see him unify the cruiserweight division before moving up to heavyweight.
“This is one of the most exciting fighters on the planet.”
Hyped Englishman Chris Billam-Smith (19-1) is the WBO cruiserweight world champion but retired British legend Bellew, who lost to Usyk in his last fight in 2018, believes Opetaia is in a league of his own.
“I am not sure any of the cruiserweight guys beat him,” said Bellew, who was ringside 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.“
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Originally published as Boxing news 2023: Australia’s Jai Opetaia def Ellis Zorro in Saudi Arabia first-round knockout
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