JAI OPETAIA is prepared to fight twice in two months if it means securing a deal to face Chris Billam-Smith.
The two cruiserweight world champions are considered the best in the weight class and Opetaia is eager to find out who is the top dog.
Both men have gone back and forth in recent weeks after Opetaia tore into his rival during DAZNโs coverage of the Justis Huni-Troy Picher card in Australia last month.
โThe offerโs there, weโve made the offer. If heโs not taking it, heโs ducking the fight,โ the IBF champion said at the time.
Earlier this month Billam-Smith, the WBO champion, spoke to Boxing News about Opetaiaโs remarks.
โI think they wanted it on October 12 and Iโm not going to shorten my camp for anyone,โ he said.
โIโm happy to fight him. Iโm going to be ready in November/December. Obviously, youโve got the December card, and Iโm happy to fight him then. The team will deal with the rest of it.โ
BN reached out to Opetaia recently and while the Aussie has full respect for his fellow champion he is growing tired of waiting around.
โThe fightโs there to be made. October 12. If he doesnโt take it Iโll have to fight someone else,โ he said.
โI want to stay busy, I donโt want to sit around and wait. If they want to fight December Iโll still fight October. If he wants to fight in December sign the contract now. Letโs get the deal now. Letโs make it happen.โ
Fighters occasionally refer to a term called โItchy Knucklesโ which relates to their restlessness while waiting for a fight. Opetaia appears to have it all the time. He has his reasons, however. After defeating Mairis Breidis in July 2022 to become world champion he then sat on the sidelines for a year because of injury and issues outside of the ring.
Opetaia returned to blistering effect in September last year running over Jordan Thompson. Three months later he needed just three minutes to wipe out Ellis Zorro. In May his return to the top of the 200lbs division was confirmed when he beat Briedis in another hard-fought encounter. Momentum is very much on his side and heโs not keen on spending too long without having a fight signed.
โI donโt understand what weโre waiting for,โ he said. โUnification fights, champions fighting champions, thatโs why weโre in this sport.โ
And if WBA champion Gilberto โZurdoโ Ramirez is available for October 12 well Opetaia would be more than willing to face him as well.
โI will fight any of them. What are we beating around the bush for? Gimme a call, letโs make it happen.
โI donโt want to be a famous superstar, I want to be the best fighter in the world. Thatโs all that interests me.โ