Opetaia’s Next Step: Anticipating Battles with Bivol and Beterbiev
The current IBF cruiserweight champion, Jai Opetaia, is making waves in the boxing community. Opetaia, who has a perfect record of 25-0 (19 KOs), is currently in a pivotal point of his career. What will be his next task? Potential fights against Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) and Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs), two of the most formidable light heavyweight champions in boxing.
This time, though, the goal is to demonstrate that he can compete with the best—that is, if these light heavyweight monsters are prepared to put on more weight—rather than just hold onto his unbeaten record.
The Beterbiev Challenge
Anyone would find it intimidating to go off against Artur Beterbiev, and Opetaia is no different. Beterbiev, who is infamous for his unrelenting pursuit of destruction, is a terrifying opponent for everyone who steps foot in the ring. He destroys his opponents in addition to winning battles. Having won all 20 of his fights via knockout, he is perhaps the most dangerous fighter in the sport right now.
This matchup is very troublesome for Opetaia. In the opening rounds, his in-and-out, potshot-heavy strategy would help him avoid injury, but Beterbiev’s sheer pressure would try every ounce of his cerebral and physical fortitude. Because of his lack of experience, the Australian is open to Beterbiev’s attacks. Opetaia’s odds of winning a fight when avoiding punishment is crucial seem remote if he is unable to have Beterbiev acknowledge his authority.
Rumors have circulated in the boxing community that Beterbiev may step up in weight to confront Opetaia, but everything hinges on how he performs against WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol on October 12. If Beterbiev wins and unifies the light heavyweight championships, a cruiserweight promotion would be the next obvious step for him. At 175 pounds, Beterbiev has nothing left to prove, so taking on Opetaia might be the test he needs to further establish his legacy.
Bivol: The Master of Chess
Conversely, Dmitry Bivol presents an entirely distinct kind of problem. Bivol is renowned for his dexterity and technical skill; his play is more akin to a chess match than a brawl. His skill to outwit and outmaneuver opponents could pose a serious threat to Opetaia.
Opetaia recently said in an interview that he was impressed by Bivol’s aesthetic, describing it as “that chess match, that stylistic fight that people watch over and over again.” I grew up seeing bouts like those. The Australian obviously perceives something unique in Bivol’s style of play, possibly even reflecting his own style of boxing.
It’s no secret that Opetaia has been eschewing his previous style of physical combat in favor of a more calculated, hit-and-move strategy. This metamorphosis was on display last May in his fight against Mairis Briedis. It was a wise move, despite some fans criticizing the bout for being less entertaining. Opetaia understood he had to avoid a firefight with a well-seasoned and determined Briedis. Rather than do anything different, he went for a Shakur Stevenson-esque effort, sticking and going to win.
It would be an actual test of talent and strategy to fight Bivol. Although Opetaia might not be in danger of receiving the same severe punishment as Beterbiev, he could still become frustrated by Bivol’s ring IQ. It would be a long-lasting contest of cunning, with the winner determined by who can carry out their strategy the best.
Canelo Alvarez and the Overarching Framework
The boxing scene as a whole is one of the most fascinating components of a possible Beterbiev-Opetaia match. Canelo Alvarez hasn’t expressed much enthusiasm in taking on Beterbiev despite his earlier flirtations with the light heavyweight class. The explanation is simple: Canelo has a history of doing better against opponents who are less physically intimidating than Sergey Kovalev, and Beterbiev’s strength and persistent tactics present a negative combination for Canelo.
Considering that Canelo appears to be out of the picture and that Beterbiev has no other realistic opponents at light heavyweight, moving up to cruiserweight makes even more sense. Not just for Beterbiev and Opetaia, but also for boxing in general, the stakes would be tremendous. A battle between these two would be a huge event, particularly if someone like the well-known boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh comes in to help publicize the bout.
Opetaia’s Path Forward
Prior to the possibility of any of these mega battles happening, Opetaia has some business to attend to on October 12. On the undercard of Beterbiev vs. Bivol, he is slated to defend his IBF title against the formidable Jack Massey (22-2, 12 KOs). Though not as technically proficient as Bivol or as destructive as Beterbiev, Massey yet poses a real threat. If Opetaia wants to land these profitable matchups in the future, he’ll need to remain focused and not look past his opponent.
For Opetaia, his career may be defined in the upcoming months. He is at a turning point in his career; will he keep becoming better and uphold himself against the greatest in the world, or will he crumble under pressure? The boxing world is keeping a close eye on the impending replies.
