Gold Coast, Australia — June 9, 2025 – Jai Opetaia made a dominant return to the ring Sunday night with a clinical fifth-round knockout of Italy’s Claudio Squeo. Before a raucous and supportive Queensland crowd basking in the glow of homegrown talent, the bout, held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, marked Opetaia’s latest defense of his IBF and The Ring Magazine cruiserweight titles and served as a sharp reminder that the undefeated southpaw remains the man to beat in the division.
For Opetaia (28-0, 22 KOs), it was less a contest than a statement. And a call out warning to the other title holders, in particular Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for a unification bout.
From the opening bell, Opetaia made it clear he had no interest in easing back into the global spotlight. The 28-year-old Australian controlled the center of the ring with an imposing blend of footwork, timing, and precision striking. He jabbed sharply to establish rhythm, used subtle angles to avoid Squeo’s slower returns, and kept the Italian constantly reacting rather than initiating.
In the second and third rounds, Opetaia began adding venom to his combinations, landing a string of left crosses and body hooks that signaled the beginning of the end. Squeo, game as ever, absorbed the punishment and attempted to rally, but was unable to match the class of the champion.
The Italian (17-1, 9 KOs), fighting outside Europe for the first time, found himself a step behind in both mindset and execution.
Then came the fifth. A crisp three-punch combination – a lead right hook, a feint, and a booming straight left – rocked Squeo back on his heels. Moments later, a lightning-quick counter to the jaw collapsed him to the canvas. The referee waved it off without a count. It was a brutal break of Squeo’s jaw, yet an elegant finish which should silence any remaining Opetaia doubters.
Opetaia’s power has never been questioned, but what was on display in Queensland was refinement. This was not the wild, raw puncher of years past, but a world champion who has matured with surgical precision and patience.
“I knew I had to make a statement tonight,” Opetaia said post-fight, surrounded by roaring supporters. “Respect to Squeo – he came here to fight. But I’m on a mission. I want every belt, every name. I’m not here to take part. I’m here to dominate.”
That statement resonated loud and clear in the boxing world. With the WBO, WBC, and WBA titles still held elsewhere, speculation immediately turned to unification bouts. Most notably, a long-anticipated clash with Chris Billam-Smith or a rematch with Mairis Briedis—whom Opetaia dethroned in a 2022 war—looms on the horizon.
Jai Opetaia called out Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for a unification bout. Ramirez currently holds the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles, making a potential fight between the two a significant step toward unifying the division.
Opetaia emphasized his desire to face Ramirez next, stating, “Next fight is Zurdo Ramirez. He’s mentioned me, he’s told me he’ll fight me next so let’s get it on. I’m chasing that belt. I’m not here to badmouth him, but the fight is easy to be made.”
Opetaia’s focus on unifying the cruiserweight division has been a consistent theme in his recent fights. After his victory over David Nyika in January 2025, he expressed similar intentions to face Ramirez, highlighting his ambition to collect all the major titles in the division.
Looking ahead, Opetaia’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has hinted at even bigger plans. Once Opetaia secures all cruiserweight titles, Hearn envisions a move to the heavyweight division, potentially setting up a blockbuster bout against Oleksandr Usyk.
Hearn stated, “Jai is going to pick up all the belts in the cruiserweight division to become undisputed. And then we want to push him into a fight with Oleksandr Usyk as well to try and become undisputed at heavyweight as well.”
For now, the immediate focus remains on arranging the unification fight with Gilberto Ramirez, a matchup that promises to be one of the most anticipated bouts in the cruiserweight division.
With his emphatic victory over Squeo, Opetaia further distanced himself from the chasing pack. A former Olympian, Opetaia has matured through injuries and hard lessons, emerging now as a composed, battle-tested champion with legitimate claims to pound-for-pound recognition.
“He’s got the whole package now,” said trainer Mark Wilson. “He’s not just dangerous – he’s smart, he’s patient, and he knows exactly when to step on the gas. The rest of the cruiserweight division better be on notice.”
There is also growing discussion of a move to heavyweight, which is something Opetaia hasn’t dismissed.
“I’m not done at cruiser yet,” he told reporters. “But when I am… you better believe I’ll be ready for those big names up there.”
Undercard Action
The night wasn’t short on drama beyond the main event. In the co-feature, local standout Ben Mahoney remained undefeated (now 16-0-1) after outpointing Venezuela’s Eddy Colmenares in a gritty 10-round super welterweight scrap. Mahoney overcame a slow start to dominate the back half of the fight, using superior conditioning and in-fighting to stifle his opponent.
Conor Wallace impressed in a dominant decision win over Dylan Colin in the light heavyweight division, while rising star Tyler Blizzard claimed the vacant IBF Pan Pacific featherweight title with a majority decision over former Muay Thai champion Rocky Ogden. Blizzard’s speed and volume punching gave him the edge in what was arguably the fight of the night for purists.
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