Cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia is set to fight on a massive Las Vegas card on September 12. The undefeated Australian will feature on the undercard of the Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn event, marking a huge step in his Zuffa Boxing career.
The move puts Opetaia on one of the biggest stages of the year. It’s a major play after signing with Zuffa Boxing in January to boost his profile. The news was confirmed by reporting from the Review Journal’s Sam Gordon. He stated: “Cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia is slated to fight on the undercard of Ryan Garcia’s WBC welterweight title defence against Conor Benn at T-Mobile Arena, per source. Opponent not yet finalized for the undefeated 200-pounder.” This placement guarantees maximum exposure for the 31-year-old southpaw.
Opetaia’s path has been eventful. After being stripped of his IBF world title, he captured the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight belt by beating Brandon Glanton. Now he needs a challenger. One name in the mix is fellow Zuffa fighter Chris Billam-Smith, but that showdown could be big enough to headline its own event. Another possibility is Germany’s Robin Sirwan Safar. He fights for Golden Boy Promotions, who are involved in the Garcia-Benn show, and has been calling Opetaia out.
This Las Vegas appearance is a vital part of a much bigger plan. Opetaia has been clear about his ultimate goal: becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion. To get there, he must eventually face the division’s other titlists. The path leads directly to WBO and WBA champion David Benavidez and WBC champion Noel Mikaelian, who are reportedly heading towards their own unification fight. A high-profile win in Vegas keeps Opetaia active, visible, and on a collision course with the top of the division.
