Latest news with #ClaudioSqueo
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
The brutal message from rising Australian boxing star Jai Opetaia after shattering opponent's jaw: 'I was in a rush'
Rising Aussie fighter Jai Opetaia has revealed the savage reason why he dealt with his latest fashion in a swift and brutal fashion before calling out Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramírez. Opetaia delivered another commanding performance on the Gold Coast, defending his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles. The Australian champion stopped unbeaten Italian challenger Claudio Squeo in the fifth round with a thunderous right hook. Moments after the fight, news broke that Squeo had likely suffered a broken jaw. 'It was a matter of time,' commentator Ben Damon said as the referee waved the bout off. Opetaia later told the crowd why he dispatched his latest challenger in such efficient - and savage - style. All too easy for Jai Opetaia #OpetaiaSqueo — Ben Damon (@ben_damon) June 8, 2025 Claudio Squeo entered the ring undefeated but was overwhelmed by Opetaia's reach, power and relentless forward pressure 'I was just in a rush, I just really wanted to get him out of here,' he said. It was a chillingly honest remark from a fighter who has become known for both his patience and ferocity. The fight began cautiously, with Opetaia feeling out his opponent in the opening round. By the second, he had found his rhythm, landing clean blows and showing off his footwork. 'The intensity has dialled right up,' Damon said during the third as Squeo began to retreat. Cracks appeared in the Italian's defence as Opetaia pushed forward with increasing pressure. In the fourth, the crowd erupted in boos after a controversial crumpled from a crushing body shot, but the referee ruled Opetaia had held him. Replays showed the punch landed cleanly in the chest, not low as Squeo had signalled. It didn't matter. In the fifth, Opetaia closed the show. He marched forward and crushed Squeo's jaw with a brutal right hook. Squeo dropped to his knees, grabbed his face and couldn't continue. 'He knew it was hurt straight away,' said Ted Cofie in commentary. Opetaia, who broke his own jaw in the same ring in 2022 against Mairis Briedis, showed no sympathy. Instead, he turned his attention to unification. 'I'm chasing these unification fights. I'm chasing these world champions,' Opetaia said. That means WBO and WBA titleholder Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramírez is now firmly in his sights. Ramírez is set to face Yuniel Dorticos on June 28, with Opetaia planning to be ringside. 'Next fight is Zurdo Ramírez,' Opetaia said. 'He's mentioned me, he's told me he'll fight me next … so let's get it on.' The 29-year-old then stared down the broadcast camera and repeated his challenge: 'Let's get it on.' Opetaia's win moved his record to a perfect 28-0, with many of those victories ending in highlight-reel knockouts. Despite being one of the world's most dangerous punchers, his technical skill often goes unnoticed. His height, reach, and power were too much for the Italian, who entered undefeated with a 17-0 record. Opetaia thanked the packed crowd and gave a special shoutout to fans from Australia and the Pacific Islands. 'We did what we have to do. We've got a lot more to go,' he said.
News.com.au
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Broke his jaw': Jai Opetaia stays undefeated with brutal right hook to register 28th straight win
It was early on in fight week when Jai Opetaia told us how, as a child, he would walk around his gym shouting that famed Achilles line from cult fightin' flick, Troy. 'Is there anyone else?' Opetaia would bellow, grinning as he walked. 'Is there anyone else …' Finally now, he gets to find out. Hitchins vs. Kambosos Jr | SUN 15 JUNE 9AM AEST | IBF super lightweight champ Richardson Hitchins attempts to make a first defence of his crown against Australia's George Kambosos Jr. | Order now with Main Event on Kayo Sports Almost three years after famously winning the IBF cruiserweight title with a jaw busted in two places, Opetaia is ready to completely erase the division after brutally finishing Italy's Claudio Squeo – and, ironically, after almost certainly breaking his jaw. Coming into the bout as an unbackable $1.01 favourite – and with Squeo as wide as $26 in some markets – Opetaia needed just 36 seconds into the fifth to finish the challenger with a brutal right hook. You can watch the massive right hook in the player at the top of the page. As mentioned more than once this week, it was after watching Russell Crowe's performance in Cinderella Man that Squeo took up boxing, so enamoured was he by the underdog yarn of James J. Braddock. Yet there was to be no Hollywood upset on this warm Gold Coast night. Still, you can't say things didn't go to script. After starting the first round cautiously, Opetaia then quickly built into the fight. There was a moment in controversy in the fourth when Opetaia dropped Squeo with a body shot however referee Robert Hoyle ruled it a low blow. The crazy moment – which was loudly booed after replays were shown on the big screen – followed the champ opening with a big overhand right and then, once the Italian was given time to recover from the 'low blow', went on the attack again. Opetaia then finished the round attacking Squeo to the body and head. The challenger, while brave, was quickly running out of answers. And early in the fifth it was all over. Pushing his rival into a corner, the champ landed a thudding right hand that saw Squeo pause momentarily before clutching at what is likely a broken jaw and dropping to the canvas. And it was there he stayed as Hoyle counted him out. Asked about his effort, Opetaia said: 'Man I was just in a rush. 'I really wanted to get him out of there 'I'm chasing unification fights. 'It's frustrating.' The Central Coast product that praised the love from Australia and Samoa before calling out the man he has been chasing for some time, Mexican Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez. While refusing to bad mouth the man holding the division's WBO and WBA straps, Opetaia simply said it was time for the pair to throw down – or at least if the champ wins his own title defence in 20 days. 'Anyone who thinks they're the best they're not the best until they beat me,' he said. 'Anywhere, anytime just pick up the phone.' All of which completed a wild Australian boxing day that saw Justis Huni suffer a controversial 10-count in his world title loss against Fabio Wardley, while Sam Goodman was announced to face WBA featherweight champ Nick Ball in Saudi Arabia this August. And then to top it all off, Opetaia went and chalked up another brutal KO – taking his undefeated tear to 28 straight fights. As revealed by Fox Sports Australia earlier this week, the IBF and Ring champ will now jet to the US in coming day and personally confront Ramirez. In just 20 days time, the popular Mexican star is set to feature as the co-main in Jake Paul's latest outing in Los Angeles. Should Ramirez win, he will be confronted immediately afterwards by Opetaia, with Francis stressing he's already spoken with broadcasters DAZN about putting his client in the $2000 ringside seats. While eventually planning for a hyped move to heavyweight, Opetaia first wins to not simply unify the cruiserweight division, but go undisputed in back-to-back blockbusters. That makes taking on Ramirez and then, in victory, taking the last available strap from WBC champ Badou Jack. Already, there has been talk of Opetaia-Ramirez taking place in Saudi Arabia this October. But the Central Coast product his heard his share of false promises. Which is why he and manager Mick Francis will be jetting to the US to make the fight happen.
Daily Telegraph
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Telegraph
What time is Jai Opetaia's fight and how can I watch it on DAZN: Live blog, results, highlights, knockout, Gilberto Ramirez
Three years after he broke his jaw winning the IBF cruiserweight world title, Jai Opetaia dished out the same punishment to Claudio Squeo, appearing to crack the Italian challenger's jaw in the fifth round of their IBF world title fight. Opetaia defended his world title in devastating fashion, hammering the overmatched Squeo with a big left hand from the opening minute. The finish came with a vicious right hook to Squeo's jaw, with Opetaia immediately saying he heard it crack when he hit it. The win sees Opetaia move a step closer to a cruiserweight unification bout against Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez. Ramirez defends his WBO and WBA titles against Yuniel Dorticos in seven weeks in Anaheim on the undercard to Jake Paul's fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Opetaia will be ringside and plans on calling the Mexican out. GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Jai Opetaia of Australia reacts after victory in his IBF Cruiserweight Title bout against Claudio Squeo of Italy at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 08, 2025 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by) 'Next fight, Zurdo Ramirez. Let's get it on. I'm chasing that belt, let's go,' Opetaia said. 'I'm not here to bad mouth him or beat him down. But the fight is easy to be made. We are ready. Whenever you call, we are ready. 'I believe I'm the best boxer in the cruiserweight division. Let's make the fight happen. Anyone who thinks they're the best, they're not the best until they beat me. 'Anywhere, anytime, just pick up the phone.' Opetaia's promoter, Mick Francis called on Ramirez to stop running and take the fight. 'The plan is to go over there and call him out. He's been dodging for a long time,' Francis said. 'Jai's been calling for this fight for a long time. 'He's 28, he's done the work, let's make it happen. 'Jai's respectful, but we need to call him out and make him fight Jai. He's ducking and dodging. The only way is to get on a plane, get over there and call him out.' It was all one way traffic on the Gold Coast, but there was confusion in the fourth round when Opetaia landed a massive uppercut to the body, forcing Squeo to take a knee. GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Jai Opetaia of Australia punches Claudio Squeo of Italy during their IBF Cruiserweight Title bout at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 08, 2025 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by) Referee Robert Hoyle didn't rule it a knockdown though, and appeared to call it a low blow. Opetaia argued, before Hoyle said the defending champion was illegally holding Squeo behind the head while punching him to the body. 'It's understandable, I was holding him,' Opetaia told Code Sports. 'It was illegal, that's why I wasn't blowing up or anything. 'But I thought he was saying low blow at the start. But he told me I was holding him.' Opetaia ended it in convincing fashion a round later though, clubbing a powerful right hook to Squeo's jaw. The tough challenger dropped to a knee and gestured to his jaw while being counted out. 'I felt it, and I heard it click when it landed,' Opetaia said. 'I heard the punch when it hit his jaw and I thought, 'This poor bastard'. 'I've been there before. I saw his jaw, and when I looked at it, it had a little bump.' It was the same venue and the same ring Opetaia's own jaw was shattered when he first won the IBF world title against Mairis Breidis in 2022. 'I didn't go down though,' Opetaia told Code Sports. In the co-main event, Conor Wallace fought through a busted eardrum to earn a hard-fought unanimous decision win over tough Frenchman Dylan Colin. One of the brightest prospects in Aussie boxing, Max McIntyre claimed another victim, knocking out New Zealander Ricaia Warren. Warren (5-1) was a game opponent, and landed well early on. But once McIntyre found his range, it was all one-way traffic. Two left hands signalled the beginning of the end for Warren. A powerful overhand right jolted the Kiwi's head back, forcing referee Paul 'The Tornado' Tapley to call it off. 'I got into my flow, as soon as I got into my gears, no one can stop me,' McIntyre said. 'I'm here for world titles. I want to go down as one of the greatest of all time. 'He was a tough opponent. I hit him with some right hands that other guys have gone down with.' Originally published as Jai Opetaia v Claudio Squeo: Jai Opetaia batters Claudio Squeo, calls out Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Jai Opetaia retains his IBF cruiserweight title after brutal stoppage victory against Claudio Squeo
Jai Opetaia has retained his IBF cruiserweight title after defeating Claudio Squeo on Sunday. Jai Opetaia gets the stoppage in the 5th! 😤👑 #OpetaiaSqueo — DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 8, 2025
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jai Opetaia vs. Claudio Squeo live results, round-by-round updates, ring walks, start time for IBF cruiserweight world title fight
Jai Opetaia and Claudio Squeo face off for the IBF cruiserweight title at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Queensland, Australia. () Uncrowned has Jai Opetaia vs. Claudio Squeo live results, round-by-round updates, highlights, ring walks and start time for the Opetaia vs. Squeo fight card on Sunday morning at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Queensland, Australia. Opetaia defends his IBF cruiserweight title in the main event. Opetaia (27-0, 21 KOs) makes his second appearance of 2025 following a brutal stoppage win over David Nyika in January. Advertisement Claudio Squeo (17-0, 9 KOs) isn't the opponent Opetaia wanted to land at this stage of his career, but the champion will have to be mindful of slipping against a relatively unknown operator who is fighting outside of Italy for the first time in his eight-year career. Nicknamed "The Red Bull," Squeo's career has been inspired by Russell Crowe's movie "Cinderella Man" — and he'll be looking to write a blockbuster of his own on Australian soil. The IBF champion, Opetaia, has been eyeing unification fights at the 200-pound limit since winning the title in 2022, with Gilberto Ramirez and Badou Jack as the other recognized champions in the division. The co-main event features light heavyweight action between Conor Wallace (15-1, 11 KOs) and Dylan Colin (14-1, 4 KOs). Wallace, a southpaw fighting out of Queensland, Australia, is rarely in a dull contest, and will be looking to make a statement against the Frenchman in a bid to climb up to world level. Advertisement Elsewhere on the main card, we have super welterweight action between the unbeaten Ben Mahoney (15-0-1, 8 KOs) and Venezuela's Eddy Colmenares (9-2-1, 9 KOs) for the IBF's vacant Inter-Continental strap at 154 pounds — a fight that looks to be well matched on paper. Also, Tyler Blizzard (9-0, 4 KOs) and Rocky Ogden (7-2, 5 KOs) throw it down in the featherweight division, looking to grab the IBF's vacant Pan Pacific title. The Opetaia vs. Squeo prelims begin at 2:30 a.m. ET and can be watched on Uncrowned below. The main card begins at 5 a.m. ET on DAZN, with main-event ring walks expected around 7 a.m. ET. Advertisement Follow all of the action with Uncrowned's live results, highlights and play-by-play of the main card below. Main Card (5 a.m. ET, DAZN) IBF cruiserweight world title: Jai Opetaia vs. Claudio Squeo Light heavyweight: Conor Wallace vs. Dylan Colin Super welterweight: Ben Mahoney vs. Eddy Colmenares Featherweight: Tyler Blizzard vs Rocky Ogden Prelims (2:30 a.m. ET, Watch via Uncrowned) Welterweight: Danny Keating vs. Blake Minto Super middleweight: Max McIntyre vs. Ricaia Warren Women's featherweight: Mariah Turner vs. Leah Reuben Light heavyweight: Austin Aokuso vs. Ikenna Enyi Super middleweight: Xavier Fletcher vs. Alivereti Dodomo
