Boxing’s ‘Steve Irwin’ hunts homecoming title fight

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Boxing’s ‘Steve Irwin’ hunts homecoming title ******

Jai Opetaia’s camp have bid for a Gold Coast world boxing title defence they hope will earn “*********** boxing’s Steve Irwin” the respect he deserves at home.

The Gold Coast-based 29-year-old moved to 26-0 with a comprehensive sixth-round stoppage of Jack Massey in Saudi Arabia last month to defend his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles.

That ****** was approved by the IBF on the promise he would then take on the body’s mandatory challenger Huseyin Cinkara.

The duel’s location will be decided by a purse bid, manager and Tasman Fighters boss Mick Francis telling AAP he has booked the Gold Coast Convention Centre for January 8.

Opetaia hasn’t fought in Australia since upsetting champion Mairis Briedis at the same venue in 2022, despite the Latvian breaking both sides of the underdog’s jaw.

That incredible ****** should have put Opetaia on the map, but a combination of injuries and a reluctance from his rivals to ****** the *********** meant he’s made just four overseas appearances since.

Those have been in either England or Saudi Arabia, a ******* rematch with Briedis the only encounter not ended early by a ruthless Opetaia.

Tim Tszyu’s consecutive losses, as well as defeats for George Kambosos Jr and Moloney brothers Andrew and Jason, have left Opetaia leading the *********** boxing charge alongside fellow world champions Liam Paro and Skye Nicolson.

“He’s Australia’s pound-for-pound No.1, hands down,” Francis told AAP of Opetaia.

“Who the f*** is a better fighter in this country than Jai Opetaia? He’s one of the better pound-for-pound (boxers) in the world, let alone Australia.

“But he’s the Steve Irwin of *********** boxing; known all around the world better than in his home country. It’s sad.

“He hasn’t been given the respect he deserves in this country. Cinkara’s team is playing hard-ball, but we’re booked for the Gold Coast and fighting in Australia again will help (his profile).”

Opetaia’s fights have been shown on global streaming site DAZN, but Francis indicated he would enter discussions with Fox Sports to have his defence against the Turkish-born, *******-based Cinkara on Main Event.

Victory would ideally then see Opetaia unify his belt against the victor of November 16’s duel between Mexico’s WBA cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez and English WBO titleholder Chris Billam-Smith.

Opetaia has been chasing a date with Billam-Smith, the *********** even offering to pay him $250,000 of his own purse to make it happen.

He based himself in the ******* Kingdom to prepare for his latest ****** and has earnt a following for his blunt, honest interviews and ferocious boxing.

“It’s not an easy ****** and Ramirez wants that (Opetaia) ******, Billam-Smith doesn’t, not a chance,” Francis said.

“Jai offered to pay him a quarter of a million of his own purse to make the ****** and he still said no.

“It’d a massive ****** in the ***, Jai’s massive there, been on every mainstream program over there and making massive waves.

“But he’d get his ears boxed off him, I’ll be honest, and it would be a disaster for English boxing.”

Francis admits the calls for Opetaia to follow undisputed two-division world champion Oleksandr Usyk to the big-money heavyweight class has merit.

“Chasing these belts and jumping through hoops to unify … it’s a headache and expensive to prove you’re the best,” Francis said.

“Personally I’d like to see him move up in the next 12-18 months, but until he unifies all four (cruiserweight titles) he isn’t going to sleep well.”

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