JAI Opetaia successfully retained his IBF world title in Riyadh, forcing Jack Massey’s cornerman Joe Gallagher to throw the towel in at 2-00 of round six. Referee Steve Gray accepted the in-fight retirement.
It started off as one-way traffic and never reversed. Massey had a tough opening few rounds, taking Opetaia’s straight left hands to the body, placing his back firmly against the ropes.
Massey’s difficult task was already tough enough before a huge right hand and bleeding eye in round five increased the pressure. If Massey’s plan was to get to the later rounds, then the strategy potentially needed to be revisited as he sucked it up and plodded on towards a sixth-round nose-busting.
Joe Gallagher decided enough was enough and threw the towel in to end the massacre. Massey, the European champion, may have felt his time was still to come, but a withdrawal made sense. As the ring settled down for the result announcement, Jack Massey’s face was a mess as he nodded approval at the defeat.
Jai Opetaia said afterwards: “I felt good. I knew Jack was going to come and fight. I have nothing but respect for him and his family. Whoever he [Turki Alalshikh] tells me to beat, that’s who I’ve got to beat.”
Gilberto Ramirez and Chris Billam-Smith will fight next month in a title unification. Opetaia looked hugely impressive and improved to 26-0 (20), while Massey fell to 22-3 (12).
