Jai Opetaia Prepares for Title Defense While Reflecting on Past Revelries

Jai Opetaia, the undefeated cruiserweight champion, candidly discussed his past experiences with extended drinking binges prior to his upcoming title defense against Jack Massey. Despite these revelations, Opetaia emphasized his commitment to hard work and the enjoyment of well-earned celebrations, as he gears up for his bout in Saudi Arabia.

In an exclusive interview with SunSport, Opetaia reflected on the lifestyle choices of his younger years, acknowledging that these experiences have shaped his current dedication to the sport. “I’m from the central coast, New South Wales. Not many clean athletes coming out of there!” Opetaia stated, attributing his growth and drive to lessons learned from his past excesses.

The IBF champion, whose recent victory was over Mairis Briedis in May, conveyed a philosophy of balancing rigorous training with occasional indulgence. “I train hard and work hard and when it’s time in my head I’ll party hard too,” he said, underlining the satisfaction that comes with celebrating hard-won victories.

Besides his sporting ambitions, Opetaia publicly addressed frustrations about not seeing an immediate change post-title win. “I used to think that mindset, once I win a world title it’s going to fix all my problems,” he remarked. However, he faced reality differently, suggesting that achievements come with their own set of challenges, such as dealings with promoters.

Opetaia also faced an on-air reprimand during a Sky Sports interview for his language while expressing the meaning behind holding championship belts. Despite the admonishment, he stressed the personal sacrifices made in pursuit of his fighting career, defining the belts as “bonuses” in his professional trajectory.

On a related note, the October 12 boxing event in Riyadh will also feature a match between Raven Chapman and Skye Nicolson. Chapman declared Nicolson would “run away” in the ring, questioning her confidence. In response, Nicolson defended her capability and skill, emphasizing her progression as a professional boxer.

Their bout promises to be another thrilling aspect of the card, which includes the highly anticipated clash between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Nicolson noted her aspirations for the next year, indicating her ultimate goal of becoming the undisputed champion, while Chapman expressed her eagerness to take on top-ranking opponents such as Amanda Serrano.

The sporting community awaits Opetaia’s performance against Massey and anticipates the developments in the tense rivalry between Chapman and Nicolson during the upcoming event.