During his recent trip to Australia, Terence Crawford met up with Jai Opetaia, and the two world champions got on great, with plenty of mutual respect shown. Opetaia, who defends his IBF cruiserweight title against unbeaten Italian Claudio Squeo, 17-0(9) tomorrow, said the talks he and Crawford had were great and that he feels he and “Bud” have something of a similar way of thinking.
Opetaia, who many believe is the best cruiserweight in the world right now, is now aiming to fight on Crawford’s undercard. And it’s a massive card – the Canelo-Crawford fight that will go down in September. As per a news story from AAP, Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis will fly to the US after the Opetaia-Squeo fight, to try and make a deal for Opetaia to fight Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on the Canelo-Crawford undercard.
Opetaia’s US dreams ignite after Crawford meetup
Opetaia, 27-0(21) is absolutely up for this happening.
“There’s a lot of similarities in how he thinks, it was refreshing to hear his take,” Opetaia said of Crawford. I’ve looked up to him, now we’re both up here, rubbing shoulders on the same stage. I’m telling you. Canelo-Crawford, with me and Zurdo on the undercard. 100 percent. We can’t get comfortable, though.”
Could Opetaia vs. Zurdo steal the show?
Of course, Opetaia has to get through big underdog, and possibly dangerous challenger Squeo first, but that unification clash with Mexican warrior Ramirez, 47-1(30) and the reigning WBA and WBO champ at 200 pounds, is a fight Opetaia’s fans have been wanting to see for some months now. And on a huge stage like Canelo-Crawford, this fight would get the big audience it deserves. It could even be that, if Opetaia-Ramirez did happen on the Canelo-Crawford card, it could steal the show and be the fight of the night.
Can Opetaia go on and unify the cruiserweight titles, and will he then make that expected move up to the heavyweight division? Squeo will be tearing up a lot of grand plans if he manages to pull off the big upset in a few hours’ time, that’s for sure!
Zurdo Ramirez Is Looking At May Defence Against Yuniel Dorticos
Mexican warrior Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez may or may not be the best cruiserweight in the world right now. It’s down to opinion, and some might point to Jai Opetaia – and hopefully soon, these two will fight, in what could be a great addition to the number of epics we have been blessed to have witnessed when two of the best cruiserweights went at it (think Evander Holyfield-Dwight Qawi, James Toney-Vasilliy Jirov, O’Neil Bell-Jean Marc Mormeck, for a trio of good examples).
But before he fights Opetaia, or anyone else, Zurdo, 47-1(30) will have to take care of a mandatory defence. Ramirez, the reigning WBA/WBO champ, will next face former champ Yuniel Durticos of Cuba. Durticos, now aged 38, is currently 27-2(25) and he last fought in a world title bout back in 2020, this when he was decisioned by Mairis Briedis. Since then, Dorticos has gone 3-0, over okay opposition.
Who knows what kind of a fight, if any, Dorticos can give Ramirez.
But a mandatory defence is a mandatory defence, and though Zurdo is looking forward to bigger fights, he says he will take care of business against Dorticos first.
Of course, the fight we fans currently crave is one between Zurdo and Opetaia. This fight – again, a possible classic in the making – would let us know who the best 200 pounder in the world is. And Zurdo wants it.
“That’s the fight I’m looking for, he has one belt, I’m looking for the belts,” Zurdo said. “I want to become undisputed.”
Fights between Zurdo and Opetaia, and Zurdo-Badou Jack, could really prove exciting. But first, the heaviest Mexican fighter in terms of divisions conquered, will have to get through former champ Dorticos. And this fight, though a seemingly straightforward one for Ramirez now, might have been a great battle had it taken place when both men were in their prime.
Who is THE man at cruiserweight right now?