Jai Opetaia v Claudio Squeo: Jai Opetaia batters Claudio Squeo, calls out Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez

Jai Opetaia has doubled down on his callout of Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez after putting a savage beating on Claudio Squeo.

Three years after he broke his jaw winning the IBF cruiserweight world title, Jai Opetaia dished out the same punishment to Claudio Squeo, appearing to crack the Italian challenger’s jaw in the fifth round of their IBF world title fight.

Opetaia defended his world title in devastating fashion, hammering the overmatched Squeo with a big left hand from the opening minute.

The finish came with a vicious right hook to Squeo’s jaw, with Opetaia immediately saying he heard it crack when he hit it.

The win sees Opetaia move a step closer to a cruiserweight unification bout against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.

Ramirez defends his WBO and WBA titles against Yuniel Dorticos in seven weeks in Anaheim on the undercard to Jake Paul’s fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Opetaia will be ringside and plans on calling the Mexican out.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Jai Opetaia of Australia reacts after victory in his IBF Cruiserweight Title bout against Claudio Squeo of Italy at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 08, 2025 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“Next fight, Zurdo Ramirez. Let’s get it on. I’m chasing that belt, let’s go,” Opetaia said.

“I’m not here to bad mouth him or beat him down. But the fight is easy to be made. We are ready. Whenever you call, we are ready.

“I believe I’m the best boxer in the cruiserweight division. Let’s make the fight happen. Anyone who thinks they’re the best, they’re not the best until they beat me.

“Anywhere, anytime, just pick up the phone.”

Opetaia’s promoter, Mick Francis called on Ramirez to stop running and take the fight.

“The plan is to go over there and call him out. He’s been dodging for a long time,” Francis said.

“Jai’s been calling for this fight for a long time.

“He’s 28, he’s done the work, let’s make it happen.

“Jai’s respectful, but we need to call him out and make him fight Jai. He’s ducking and dodging. The only way is to get on a plane, get over there and call him out.”

It was all one way traffic on the Gold Coast, but there was confusion in the fourth round when Opetaia landed a massive uppercut to the body, forcing Squeo to take a knee.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Jai Opetaia of Australia punches Claudio Squeo of Italy during their IBF Cruiserweight Title bout at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 08, 2025 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Referee Robert Hoyle didn’t rule it a knockdown though, and appeared to call it a low blow.

Opetaia argued, before Hoyle said the defending champion was illegally holding Squeo behind the head while punching him to the body.

“It’s understandable, I was holding him,” Opetaia told Code Sports. “It was illegal, that’s why I wasn’t blowing up or anything.

“But I thought he was saying low blow at the start. But he told me I was holding him.”

Opetaia ended it in convincing fashion a round later though, clubbing a powerful right hook to Squeo’s jaw.

The tough challenger dropped to a knee and gestured to his jaw while being counted out.

“I felt it, and I heard it click when it landed,” Opetaia said. “I heard the punch when it hit his jaw and I thought, ‘This poor bastard’.

“I’ve been there before. I saw his jaw, and when I looked at it, it had a little bump.”

It was the same venue and the same ring Opetaia’s own jaw was shattered when he first won the IBF world title against Mairis Breidis in 2022.

“I didn’t go down though,” Opetaia told Code Sports.

In the co-main event, Conor Wallace fought through a busted eardrum to earn a hard-fought unanimous decision win over tough Frenchman Dylan Colin.

One of the brightest prospects in Aussie boxing, Max McIntyre claimed another victim, knocking out New Zealander Ricaia Warren.

Warren (5-1) was a game opponent, and landed well early on.

But once McIntyre found his range, it was all one-way traffic.

Two left hands signalled the beginning of the end for Warren. A powerful overhand right jolted the Kiwi’s head back, forcing referee Paul ‘The Tornado’ Tapley to call it off.

“I got into my flow, as soon as I got into my gears, no one can stop me,” McIntyre said.

“I’m here for world titles. I want to go down as one of the greatest of all time.

“He was a tough opponent. I hit him with some right hands that other guys have gone down with.”

Originally published as Jai Opetaia v Claudio Squeo: Jai Opetaia batters Claudio Squeo, calls out Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez