Derek Chisora emerges as shock target for Jai Opetaia as cruiserweight champion eyes long-awaited heavyweight move
Derek Chisora may have found an opponent for his 50th professional fight, after Jai Opetaiaโs manager revealed talks have taken place over a potential fight between the heavyweight veteran and cruiserweight champion.
Chisora (36-13, 23 knockouts) beat Otto Wallin in February and is still eyeing one more bout before hanging up his gloves.
Meanwhile, Opetaia (28-0, 22 KOs) is the current IBF champion at 200lb but has been considering a move up to heavyweight.
His manager, Mick Francis, has revealed Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh is keen for Opetaia to make the heavyweight switch sooner rather than later, and claims Chisora could be in line to welcome his man to the division.
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โIโve spoken with the IBF and said, โIf Jai goes up, where would you put him?โ And theyโve told me he would go straight to No 3 in their rankings,โ Francis explained, as quoted by Fox Sports Australia.
โTurki Alalshikh also wants to make that fight with Chisora. Iโve spoken with Queensberry, too, and theyโre interested. Everyone knows that fight would be massive.โ
Briton Chisora has shared the ring with some of the best heavyweights of his generation, including Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and Vitali Klitschko.
However, Francis believes the 41-year-old would be โno match for Opetaiaโ at this stage of his career, and hinted Chisora may price himself out of the clash to pursue an alternative opponent for his farewell fight.
โIโd hate to think how much money Chisora would want, because heโs going to get hurt,โ Francis said. โI know Jai would hurt him.โ
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Opetaia has been urged to make the switch to boxingโs blue-riband division, where a possible fight with Chisora awaits, but Francis insists the 30-year-old Australian wants to try and unify the titles at cruiserweight first โ to put his name alongside the weight classโ greats.
โJai wants to be undisputed cruiserweight champion before moving up,โ Francis added. โHe wants to be remembered as one of the greatest cruiserweights who ever lived.
โGuys like Evander Holyfield, David Haye and now Oleksandr Usyk, they are some really big names who started out in the cruiserweight division before moving up to also have massive impact as heavyweights.
โAnd Jai wants to do the same. This isnโt all about money and titles for him; itโs about legacy.โ
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