‘He’d give them hell’: All-time great tells top fighters to stopping dodging Opetaia

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Former champion pugilist Danny Green has implored the planet’s leading fighters to give the boxing world the bout they have craved, and stop dodging Australian superstar Jai Opetaia.

The Gold Coast-based sensation (28-0-0) will defend his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight belts once again on the Glitter Strip when he faces Germany’s Huseyin Cinkara (23-0-0), with both men putting their undefeated records on the line on December 6. The contest will be broadcast on Stan Sport.

It will be the eighth fight in a row in which Opetaia is defending his Ring mantle, and fourth retention attempt of the IBF crown, having temporarily vacated it when he opted against the mandatory challenge and accepted a lucrative fight in Saudi Arabia.

Jai Opetaia breaks down in tears after winning the world title.

Green – whose accolades include the WBA light-heavyweight, IBO cruiserweight and WBC interim super-middleweight belts – insisted the biggest obstacle between Opetaia and global supremacy was the lack of rivals eager to face the 30-year-old.

It was revealed on Monday current WBA and WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez would defend his titles against David Benavidez in May, drawing the ire of the Opetaia camp – whose fighter has craved a unification clash before contemplating a move to heavyweight.

It led to his promoter Michael Francis, who claimed the Ramirez camp had demanded $8 million to fight Opetaia, to call on those who have “ducked” the Australian to “grow some balls”.

“I’ve been waiting for the unification fights for years,” Opetaia said, who famously won his belts with a severely broken jaw against Mairis Briedis in 2022.

“I’m sick of the excuses. None of these other champions are in a hurry to face me – and we all know why.”

Green feared the only risk to Opetaia’s legacy as Australia’s finest ever boxer would be the inability to tee up battles with his fellow cruiserweight champions, having previously been unable to lock in bouts with past top dogs Chris Billam-Smith, Richard Riakporhe and Mateusz Masternak.

“He’s a tiger, a terror, it’s why it’s difficult for him to get the big unification bouts he thoroughly deserves. He’s on a tear, and I just think he’s by far the best cruiserweight in the world,” Green told this masthead.

“I think Ramirez should absolutely be unifying with Jai, it’s crazy. I kind of get a feeling why – I don’t think he’s confident of beating Opetaia.

“That unification fight is the one the boxing public really want to see and unfortunately in the near future it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.”

Should Opetaia continue to be deprived of the unification battles he craves, it could potentially accelerate his move to heavyweight.

Green was unsure if that idea would entertain the southpaw, but he believed Opetaia had the tools in his kit bag to emulate current unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who made the jump after becoming the undisputed best at cruiserweight.

“That’s up to Jai and his team, it’ll be exciting to see him bulk up and take on the big boys,” Green said.

“Unless you’re at the top of the world, or you’re world-class and at the top of your game, it’s going to be difficult for him to get a test.

“He’d give them hell. I don’t think people expected Usyk to have such an impact on the heavyweight division, but he’s got skill and great power.

“He’s still tough and strong, and that speed and skill is going to give anyone nightmares, no matter how big they are. Jai’s big enough … he’s world-class tough.”

Opetaia’s title defence will spearhead a card also featuring Brisbane star Justis Huni, who returns to the ring after his last-minute world title shot against Fabio Wardley.

Justis Huni is hunting another world title shot.

Huni took up the chance to contest the WBA interim heavyweight crown with just five weeks to prepare, despite dealing with severe biceps and elbow injuries which kept him from sparring.