Will Jai Opetaia vs. Derek Chisora Happen?

Jai Opetaia’s manager, Mick Francis, has revealed that the Saudis want to make Jai Opetaia vs. Derek Chisora at heavyweight. 

Opetaia is the current IBF and Ring Magazine Cruiserweight Champion. While he still has a mandatory defense against Huseyin Cinkara, the lure of a high-profile fight is strong. This move would also offer Opetaia the chance to become a two-weight world champion, following the blueprint of legends like Evander Holyfield and Oleksandr Usyk. It is also logical since a unification is not possible due to the WBA and WBO Cruiserweight Champion Zurdo Ramirez’s injury.

For Derek Chisora, a man who has fought nearly everyone, facing a young and undefeated champion like Opetaia would be a fitting and lucrative end to his career. Although Opetaia’s manager has warned that Chisora would be “no match” for his fighter, the bout would give Chisora a chance to go out with a bang against an opponent who embodies the new generation of boxing talent.

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“We’ve spoken with Turki – he wants Jai at heavyweight now. And if that were to happen, he’d go straight into number three with the IBF (rankings at heavyweight). There is also an opportunity there to fight Chisora. I’ve spoken with the IBF and said ‘if Jai goes up, where would you put him?’ And they’ve told me he would go straight to number three in their rankings. Turki wants to make that fight with Chisora. Everyone knows that would be massive. There would be plenty of interest,” Mick Francis (Opetaia’s manager)

Despite this being the case, Opetaia wants to unify first rather than taking the heavyweight option.

“Man, I’m chasing undisputed. I’ve got time under my belt. I’m only 30 years old. I want to become undisputed cruiserweight champion, and once that’s done I want to move up to heavy, or – whoever’s next, that’s who’s next. But, at the moment, undisputed is what I’m aiming for. “I’ve been told that I’ve got the mandatory first, and we’re aiming for around November, but until I see signed papers in front of me it’s all talk. But we’re aiming for that, and then we’re gonna get Ramirez early next year,” Opetaia stated