Jai Opetaia, the undefeated IBF cruiserweight champion, has opened the door for a fight with Dmitry Bivol. The Australian southpaw wants to test his skills against the undisputed light-heavyweight champion.
Bivol recently became the king of the 175-pound division. He beat Artur Beterbiev in a rematch this February, winning all four major belts. Their first fight in October 2023 ended in a split decision for Beterbiev. Bivol started well, but Beterbiev's heavy punches in the second half proved decisive. It was the first time anyone had taken Beterbiev the distance.
In the rematch, Bivol boxed smarter. He kept up the pressure until the final bell and walked away with all the gold.
Now, Bivol has options. He could complete a trilogy with Beterbiev, face mandatory challenger David Benavidez, or move up to cruiserweight to fight Opetaia.
Opetaia spoke to Ring Magazine about the potential matchup. He said:
"I have a lot of respect for Bivol, I would love to fight him, I would love to share the ring with him, I think he's a great fighter, and I would love to share the ring with a great fighter."
The IBF champion has notable wins over Mairis Briedis (twice), Jack Massey, and David Nyika. He's keen on unification fights and chasing other belts in the division. Right now, Gilberto Ramirez holds the WBA and WBO titles, while Badou Jack has the WBC strap.
Opetaia added:
"We're not chasing easy fights, we're chasing great fights and I feel like that is a great fight but at the end of the day, my vision is locked on the belts. I'm chasing unification fights. Anybody who comes in between that, I've got to take him out. But I am locked in on the other belts, I see them in a tunnel and I am heading that way. That's what I want, let's make it happen."
For now, Opetaia's next fight will be a voluntary defense against Claudio Squeo. He's frustrated about not securing bigger names and champions. A fight with Bivol could change that, offering both men a chance to make a statement in the boxing world.
