JAI OPETAIA could make the fourth defence of his IBF cruiserweight title on January 8 in Australia.
The 29-year-old’s potential opponent is mandatory challenger Huseyin ‘The Hurricane’ Cinkara, 22-0 (18 KOs), a 39-year-old German-born Turkish fighter who made his professional debut in June 2016.
Cinkara grabbed the mandatory spot after winning a final eliminator against Armend Xhoxhaj in two rounds in April. Xhoxhaj is known for going five rounds with former WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith in December 2022. The unbeaten contender’s record won’t fill anyone with confidence of an upset, however, as there are no wins on his résumé to suggest he is worthy of the mandatory slot.
Fans of Opetaia will not only expect the champion to deal with Cinkara swiftly, should the fight be finalised, but that it will lead to a cruiserweight unification super-fight against Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez. The Mexican added the WBO belt to his WBA after beating Billam-Smith in an absorbing encounter on November 16.
Opetaia has made no secret of the fact he wants more titles and the biggest fight possible but since becoming champion only his rematch victory against Mairis Briedis stands out. Since surviving a broken jaw to beat the Latvian in July 2022 Opetaia has defeated Jordan Thompson, Ellis Zorro and Jack Massey along with the points win over Briedis.