MATCHROOM Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn remains determined to deliver a unification showdown for Jai Opetaia, potentially leaving YouTube star Jake Paul scratching around for a world title shot.
A mouth-watering cruiserweight clash between the Australian and unified champion Gilberto Ramirez has naturally been mooted; but only now, with their schedules suddenly aligning, does it appear likely to materialise.
Opetaia, 27-0 (21 KOs), made a successful defence of his IBF and Ring Magazine titles in January, enjoying every second of his battle with David Nyika before halting proceedings with a fourth-round finish.
And sure enough, the hard-hitting technician will look to extend his ruthless surge in equally emphatic fashion when he squares off against Claudio Squeo on June 8.
He is, of course, widely expected to do just that, with Squeo – an unbeaten but largely unproven challenger – sharpening the 29-year-old’s tools ahead of a potential unification.
Ramirez, 47-1 (30 KOs), meanwhile, looks to retain his WBA and WBO straps on June 28 after dethroning Chris Billam-Smith with a comprehensive unanimous decision victory in November.
The Mexican will collide with seasoned operator Yuniel Dorticos on the undercard of Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, with Ramirez’s promoter, Golden Boy boss Oscar De La Hoya, having even teased a bizarre matchup between the 33-year-old and Paul.
To hopefully save us from witnessing the possible car crash, though, Hearn seemingly remains confident in shoehorning Opetaia’s name back into the mix.
But in order for the eagerly anticipated unification to take place, it is likely that boxing paymaster Turki Alalshikh would, as he so often does, need to reach deep into his pocket.
“[Alalshikh] knows that’s the best fight in the division,” Hearn told Boxing News.
“He’s put a lot of work into Jai Opetaia, Zurdo’s been on [a Riyadh Season] card as well. If they both win [their respective fights], I expect them to fight each other.
“Obviously you’ve got [WBC world champion] Badou Jack as well, and I want to see Jai become the undisputed champion.”
