Jai Opetaia inflicts ‘worst broken jaw ever seen' on opponent Claudio Squeo that needed emergency surgery
JAI OPETAIA inflicted the 'worst broken jaw ever seen' by the doctor who saved Caludio Squeo's face.
Australia's 29-year-old cruiserweight king had to defend his IBF crown against the brave Italian on Sunday night.
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And he did so with his trademark ruthless brilliance, battering the previously unbeaten man inside five one-sided rounds.
A body shot dropped Squeo in the fourth and a lead right hook from the South Coast southpaw in the fifth broke his mouth and dreams.
Opetaia's Tasman team looked after the 34-year-old, rushing him to hospital where he got expert care and the diagnoses that left him needing a minimum of THREE metal plates to reinforce his jaw.
'He has two breaks,' Dr Shannon Webber explained to the team in a video shared - with full permission - with SunSport.
'He was obviously clipped here and then it's gone 'BANG'.
'And, when there is one fracture, there is always an exit break. It's like a ring that always breaks in two spots.
'And there is a piece of fragmented bone left floating in his left cheek.'
Despite the brutal injuries suffered, as soon as Squeo came out of theatre, he helped praise on Opetaia and his classy team for their phenomenal assault on thr 14st 4lbs division and their decency outside the ropes.
'I just came out of surgery to fix the two fractures I sustained in my jaw during the match,' he explained.
'The operation went very well. I'm fine.
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'I learned right after the match that Opetaia was concerned about my condition and told his team to take care of me in every way possible.
'This shows us who the current IBF heavyweight champion truly is - not just a boxing phenomenon - but a real man, endowed with great sensitivity and heart.
'This is a boxing story driven by extreme men, filled with incredible tension, but also by boundless mutual respect.'
Opetaia - who overcame a broken jaw during his gruelling 2022 win over Mairis Briedis - now has a unification against Gilberto Ramirez on his wish list.
"Next fight Zurdo Ramirez, he's mentioned me, he's told me he will fight me next after his mandatory," Opetaia said.
"Let's get it on, I'm chasing that belt, let's go."
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