‘Las Vegas of Aussie boxing’: Coast hailed as nation’s boxing capital as Jai Opetaia bout announced

The Gold Coast is being hailed as the ‘Las Vegas’ of Australian boxing by world champion Jai Opetaia ahead of him headlining a blockbuster fight card in the city.

Jai Opetaia at Nineteen at The Star for a press conference about his June 8 bout with undefeated Italian Claudio Squeo. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Undefeated boxing world champion Jai Opetaia has declared the Gold Coast is on the “right path” to being crowned the Las Vegas of Australian boxing, as the city prepares to host another blockbuster bout in his quest for world title unification.

Opetaia will defend his International Boxing Federation cruiserweight title at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach on June 8 against undefeated Italian Claudio Squeo.

He has called Surfers Paradise home since 2021 and said the Glitter Strip was within reach of becoming the sport’s Australian mecca, just as the Jewel of the Desert is in the US.

“Definitely, and I feel like it’s on the right path to getting it,” Opetaia declared.

“Our fighters have just got to do our job, just keep winning and training hard, and the sky is the limit (for the Gold Coast).”

Opetaia’s promoter, Mick Francis of Tasman Fighters, said with the support of figures like mayor Tom Tate driving the acquisition of world class fights, the city was well-placed to become Australia’s destination of choice for promoters.

“We’ve always said that the Gold Coast should be the home of boxing in Australia – the Las Vegas of boxing,” Mr Francis said.

“With Tommy (Tate) in our corner we can make this happen.”

Fighters Conor Wallace, Jai Opetaia and Ben Mahoney at Nineteen at The Star. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Mayor Tate said hosting boxing superfights was a natural fit for the city’s sporting calendar and promised to do his part to bring more top fighters to the Gold Coast.

“The Gold Coast is one of the most exciting places in Australia, and Las Vegas is one of the most exciting places in the US. It’s a good mix,” the mayor said.

“Fighting is one of the most adrenaline-pumping events and this is an adrenaline-pumping city.

“For us to get more world class fights, we are all for it. It adds in well with the Pacific Air Show, with the Supercars. Basically every month we’re all out there pumping high – without drugs.”

Mayor Tom Tate speaking at Nineteen at The Star ahead of Jai Opetaia’s world title fight in June. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Mr Tate said the return on investment in boxing was significant, with the city’s hospitality industry particularly poised to cash in on fight night fever.

“If you talk to all the clubs and pubs and steakhouses, they (boxing fans) spend big,” Mr Tate said.

“People who love the fights, I don’t know what it is. The adrenaline gets going so they’ve got to fill their belly with good, good wine, good beer. They tend to stay longer and watch and do other sport.

“We absolutely love events boxing and we’ll continue to negotiate and if we get a chance to bid to get Jai back here again, we’ll always put out hands up.

“The sport is so active and people follow it. It fits our ‘have-a-go’ spirit.”

Local boxer Ben Mahoney will fight for the IBF Inter-Continental Super Welterweight belt on the June 8 card.

He said the Gold Coast was “the place” to become Australia’s home of boxing.

“You can have massive fight cards here, with Jai fighting for world titles, the promotion, the backing from the government. Everything fits well here. It’s the perfect spot for it and I think we have the talent for it,” he said.

“I’m a Gold Coast boy so for that to become the hub, that Vegas site for here, I’m all for it. I think it’s great.”

Originally published as ‘Las Vegas of Aussie boxing’: Coast hailed as nation’s boxing capital as Jai Opetaia bout announced