The Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, Australia hosts world title action this Sunday, as Jai Opetaia defends his IBF cruiserweight title on home soil against Claudio Squeo.
DAZN televise Opetaia vs Squeo live worldwide.
Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) has been patiently waiting for a big fight to materialise for a while, but has kept active, further enhancing his growing reputation.
The 29-year-old southpaw captured the IBF title originally in 2022, when he upset Mairis Briedis in a thriller that he won on points, before being stripped by the organisation for not defending against an approved challenger.
He would win back the belt last May, taking another decision win for the vacant title in a rematch with Briedis, and he backed that up with a sixth round stoppage of Jack Massey in Riyadh last October.
Opetaia was in action last in January, knocking David Nyika out in four in a fun firefight.
He now defends against Italy’s Squeo (17-0, 9 KOs), ranked number 14 by the IBF.
‘The Red Bull’ has only previously gone 10 rounds once, and he had to get off the deck against Niklas Rasanen last April to do so, taking a points win to also claim the vacant IBF European title.
The 34-year-old will be fighting outside of his home country for the first time as a pro this weekend.
Prediction: This one looks a mismatch, despite both being unbeaten. I think Opetaia will prove his dominance by removing Squeo from battle in the first half of the fight.
Mahoney meets Colmenares
The undercard sees the popular Ben Mahoney (15-0-1, 8 KOs) in action, and the Queenslander can take the vacant IBF Intercontinental super welterweight title by clearly outscoring Venezuela’s Eddy Colmenares (9-2-1, 9 KOs) over ten rounds.
Remaining Undercard
In other 10-round attractions, Tyler Blizzard (9-0, 4 KOs) can claim the vacant IBF Pan Pacific featherweight crown, and he can do it inside the distance against Rocky Ogden (7-2, 5 KOs), while welterweight prospect Danny Keating (9-0, 5 KOs) may need the distance to take victory against the tough Blake Minto (16-6-2, 4 KOs).
In eight-round contests, Mariah Turner (9-1, 5 KOs) can be crowned Australian featherweight champion, and she can do this by defeating Jaala Tomat (4-4-1) for the vacant title.
Conor Wallace (15-1, 11 KOs) can get the better of Dylan Colin (14-1, 4 KOs) in their light heavyweight contest, and at super middleweight, Max McIntyre (7-0, 6 KOs) can claim the win in his battle of unbeatens against Ricaia Warren (5-0, 4 KOs).
In six-rounders, Austin Aokuso (8-0, 3 KOs) should outpoint Ikenna Enyi (2-0) at light heavyweight, and Xavier Fletcher (5-0, 4 KOs) can win early against Alivereti Dodomo (4-7, 3 KOs) at super middleweight.
In four-round contests, the exciting Teremoana Teremoana (7-0, 7 KOs) can add to his perfect record by halting Jaipal Singh (6-0, 4 KOs) at heavyweight, and Matt Floyd (15-1, 10 KOs) can record a points win against Jack Gregory (5-1, 2 KOs).
