Latest news with #Squeo
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
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. 4 4 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. 'Laughed it off' - Joseph Parker reveals Usyk's blunt reaction after face-to-face challenge as rival opens door to Fury trilogy '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." 4 4
The Advertiser
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Once we do that': idling Opetaia's boxing promise
An idling Jai Opetaia predicts an overdue date with another world champion will push him to greater heights as the Australian pound-for-pound king takes the unification quest into his own hands. The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion barely left first gear in his title defence on Sunday night, but still broke the jaw of Claudio Squeo to earn a clinical fifth-round stoppage. Almost three years ago Opetaia had his own jaw broken twice in the same Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre venue by Mairis Briedis, but fought through the pain to upset the Latvian and claim his belts. Opetaia is hunting all five belts in the division before a move up to bridgerweight or heavyweight. He'll travel with manager Mick Francis to the United States and sit ringside when Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez defends his WBC and WBO titles against Yuniel Dorticos later this month. An Opetaia-Ramirez, four-belt unification blockbuster could happen on the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez Las Vegas card in September or in Saudi Arabia a month later. Manager Mick Francis has also petitioned the Queensland government to back a Suncorp Stadium super-fight, adamant his man can fill it eight years after Jeff Horn shocked Manny Pacquiao at the heaving Brisbane venue. Badou Jack is the other cruiserweight world champion, currently holding the WBC strap. "I'm not chasing Zurdo specifically; I'm chasing the belts and if he loses his belts in this fight, I'm chasing that guy," Opetaia said after moving to 28-0. Kostya Tszyu became undisputed light-welterweight champion in 2001 while George Kambosos Jnr held four of five lightweight belts when he stunned Teofimo Lopez 20 years later. "Undisputed is the top, there's no better. And once we do that ... there's another two categories to win world titles," Opetaia said of his grand plans. "A three-division world champion sounds good to me. Maybe even a super-fight with (light heavyweight champion) Bivol. There's so many exciting fights to make. "But everything is all talk, unless we keep winning." Opetaia, barring a warring defeat of Briedis in last year's rematch, has done that mercilessly since first becoming world champion. "Once I get another belt around my waist it's going to be a whole new chapter," he predicted. "Squeo coming out here (and losing), is proving what I already know. "Everyone's always bad-mouthing ... my opposition. Just because I beat them the way I beat them, I'm always getting it. "When I get my hands on one (world champion) and put on that clinic, everyone is going to go, 'F***, this kid is good'." Squeo gave away large height and weight advantages to Opetaia but, at 17-0 and boasting knockout power, remained a threat. That was until Opetaia worked over the Italian's body in the fourth round and then connected with a sweet right hook when Squeo was boxed into a corner in the fifth round. "I heard the punch break his jaw and was like, "F***, you poor bastard'," he said. "I know how that feels, being here and getting your jaw broken." Opetaia will sit ringside in California when two-division world champion Ramirez features on the Jake Paul undercard on June 28. "When I see him I'll probably shake his hand, introduce myself," Opetaia said. "I'm not here to talk shit ... I'm chasing greatness, which I think all world champions should be." An idling Jai Opetaia predicts an overdue date with another world champion will push him to greater heights as the Australian pound-for-pound king takes the unification quest into his own hands. The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion barely left first gear in his title defence on Sunday night, but still broke the jaw of Claudio Squeo to earn a clinical fifth-round stoppage. Almost three years ago Opetaia had his own jaw broken twice in the same Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre venue by Mairis Briedis, but fought through the pain to upset the Latvian and claim his belts. Opetaia is hunting all five belts in the division before a move up to bridgerweight or heavyweight. He'll travel with manager Mick Francis to the United States and sit ringside when Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez defends his WBC and WBO titles against Yuniel Dorticos later this month. An Opetaia-Ramirez, four-belt unification blockbuster could happen on the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez Las Vegas card in September or in Saudi Arabia a month later. Manager Mick Francis has also petitioned the Queensland government to back a Suncorp Stadium super-fight, adamant his man can fill it eight years after Jeff Horn shocked Manny Pacquiao at the heaving Brisbane venue. Badou Jack is the other cruiserweight world champion, currently holding the WBC strap. "I'm not chasing Zurdo specifically; I'm chasing the belts and if he loses his belts in this fight, I'm chasing that guy," Opetaia said after moving to 28-0. Kostya Tszyu became undisputed light-welterweight champion in 2001 while George Kambosos Jnr held four of five lightweight belts when he stunned Teofimo Lopez 20 years later. "Undisputed is the top, there's no better. And once we do that ... there's another two categories to win world titles," Opetaia said of his grand plans. "A three-division world champion sounds good to me. Maybe even a super-fight with (light heavyweight champion) Bivol. There's so many exciting fights to make. "But everything is all talk, unless we keep winning." Opetaia, barring a warring defeat of Briedis in last year's rematch, has done that mercilessly since first becoming world champion. "Once I get another belt around my waist it's going to be a whole new chapter," he predicted. "Squeo coming out here (and losing), is proving what I already know. "Everyone's always bad-mouthing ... my opposition. Just because I beat them the way I beat them, I'm always getting it. "When I get my hands on one (world champion) and put on that clinic, everyone is going to go, 'F***, this kid is good'." Squeo gave away large height and weight advantages to Opetaia but, at 17-0 and boasting knockout power, remained a threat. That was until Opetaia worked over the Italian's body in the fourth round and then connected with a sweet right hook when Squeo was boxed into a corner in the fifth round. "I heard the punch break his jaw and was like, "F***, you poor bastard'," he said. "I know how that feels, being here and getting your jaw broken." Opetaia will sit ringside in California when two-division world champion Ramirez features on the Jake Paul undercard on June 28. "When I see him I'll probably shake his hand, introduce myself," Opetaia said. "I'm not here to talk shit ... I'm chasing greatness, which I think all world champions should be." An idling Jai Opetaia predicts an overdue date with another world champion will push him to greater heights as the Australian pound-for-pound king takes the unification quest into his own hands. The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion barely left first gear in his title defence on Sunday night, but still broke the jaw of Claudio Squeo to earn a clinical fifth-round stoppage. Almost three years ago Opetaia had his own jaw broken twice in the same Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre venue by Mairis Briedis, but fought through the pain to upset the Latvian and claim his belts. Opetaia is hunting all five belts in the division before a move up to bridgerweight or heavyweight. He'll travel with manager Mick Francis to the United States and sit ringside when Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez defends his WBC and WBO titles against Yuniel Dorticos later this month. An Opetaia-Ramirez, four-belt unification blockbuster could happen on the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez Las Vegas card in September or in Saudi Arabia a month later. Manager Mick Francis has also petitioned the Queensland government to back a Suncorp Stadium super-fight, adamant his man can fill it eight years after Jeff Horn shocked Manny Pacquiao at the heaving Brisbane venue. Badou Jack is the other cruiserweight world champion, currently holding the WBC strap. "I'm not chasing Zurdo specifically; I'm chasing the belts and if he loses his belts in this fight, I'm chasing that guy," Opetaia said after moving to 28-0. Kostya Tszyu became undisputed light-welterweight champion in 2001 while George Kambosos Jnr held four of five lightweight belts when he stunned Teofimo Lopez 20 years later. "Undisputed is the top, there's no better. And once we do that ... there's another two categories to win world titles," Opetaia said of his grand plans. "A three-division world champion sounds good to me. Maybe even a super-fight with (light heavyweight champion) Bivol. There's so many exciting fights to make. "But everything is all talk, unless we keep winning." Opetaia, barring a warring defeat of Briedis in last year's rematch, has done that mercilessly since first becoming world champion. "Once I get another belt around my waist it's going to be a whole new chapter," he predicted. "Squeo coming out here (and losing), is proving what I already know. "Everyone's always bad-mouthing ... my opposition. Just because I beat them the way I beat them, I'm always getting it. "When I get my hands on one (world champion) and put on that clinic, everyone is going to go, 'F***, this kid is good'." Squeo gave away large height and weight advantages to Opetaia but, at 17-0 and boasting knockout power, remained a threat. That was until Opetaia worked over the Italian's body in the fourth round and then connected with a sweet right hook when Squeo was boxed into a corner in the fifth round. "I heard the punch break his jaw and was like, "F***, you poor bastard'," he said. "I know how that feels, being here and getting your jaw broken." Opetaia will sit ringside in California when two-division world champion Ramirez features on the Jake Paul undercard on June 28. "When I see him I'll probably shake his hand, introduce myself," Opetaia said. "I'm not here to talk shit ... I'm chasing greatness, which I think all world champions should be."
West Australian
09-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
'Once we do that': idling Opetaia's boxing promise
An idling Jai Opetaia predicts an overdue date with another world champion will push him to greater heights as the Australian pound-for-pound king takes the unification quest into his own hands. The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion barely left first gear in his title defence on Sunday night, but still broke the jaw of Claudio Squeo to earn a clinical fifth-round stoppage. Almost three years ago Opetaia had his own jaw broken twice in the same Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre venue by Mairis Briedis, but fought through the pain to upset the Latvian and claim his belts. Opetaia is hunting all five belts in the division before a move up to bridgerweight or heavyweight. He'll travel with manager Mick Francis to the United States and sit ringside when Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez defends his WBC and WBO titles against Yuniel Dorticos later this month. An Opetaia-Ramirez, four-belt unification blockbuster could happen on the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez Las Vegas card in September or in Saudi Arabia a month later. Manager Mick Francis has also petitioned the Queensland government to back a Suncorp Stadium super-fight, adamant his man can fill it eight years after Jeff Horn shocked Manny Pacquiao at the heaving Brisbane venue. Badou Jack is the other cruiserweight world champion, currently holding the WBC strap. "I'm not chasing Zurdo specifically; I'm chasing the belts and if he loses his belts in this fight, I'm chasing that guy," Opetaia said after moving to 28-0. Kostya Tszyu became undisputed light-welterweight champion in 2001 while George Kambosos Jnr held four of five lightweight belts when he stunned Teofimo Lopez 20 years later. "Undisputed is the top, there's no better. And once we do that ... there's another two categories to win world titles," Opetaia said of his grand plans. "A three-division world champion sounds good to me. Maybe even a super-fight with (light heavyweight champion) Bivol. There's so many exciting fights to make. "But everything is all talk, unless we keep winning." Opetaia, barring a warring defeat of Briedis in last year's rematch, has done that mercilessly since first becoming world champion. "Once I get another belt around my waist it's going to be a whole new chapter," he predicted. "Squeo coming out here (and losing), is proving what I already know. "Everyone's always bad-mouthing ... my opposition. Just because I beat them the way I beat them, I'm always getting it. "When I get my hands on one (world champion) and put on that clinic, everyone is going to go, 'F***, this kid is good'." Squeo gave away large height and weight advantages to Opetaia but, at 17-0 and boasting knockout power, remained a threat. That was until Opetaia worked over the Italian's body in the fourth round and then connected with a sweet right hook when Squeo was boxed into a corner in the fifth round. "I heard the punch break his jaw and was like, "F***, you poor bastard'," he said. "I know how that feels, being here and getting your jaw broken." Opetaia will sit ringside in California when two-division world champion Ramirez features on the Jake Paul undercard on June 28. "When I see him I'll probably shake his hand, introduce myself," Opetaia said. "I'm not here to talk shit ... I'm chasing greatness, which I think all world champions should be."
Perth Now
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
'Once we do that': idling Opetaia's boxing promise
An idling Jai Opetaia predicts an overdue date with another world champion will push him to greater heights as the Australian pound-for-pound king takes the unification quest into his own hands. The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion barely left first gear in his title defence on Sunday night, but still broke the jaw of Claudio Squeo to earn a clinical fifth-round stoppage. Almost three years ago Opetaia had his own jaw broken twice in the same Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre venue by Mairis Briedis, but fought through the pain to upset the Latvian and claim his belts. Opetaia is hunting all five belts in the division before a move up to bridgerweight or heavyweight. He'll travel with manager Mick Francis to the United States and sit ringside when Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez defends his WBC and WBO titles against Yuniel Dorticos later this month. An Opetaia-Ramirez, four-belt unification blockbuster could happen on the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez Las Vegas card in September or in Saudi Arabia a month later. Manager Mick Francis has also petitioned the Queensland government to back a Suncorp Stadium super-fight, adamant his man can fill it eight years after Jeff Horn shocked Manny Pacquiao at the heaving Brisbane venue. Badou Jack is the other cruiserweight world champion, currently holding the WBC strap. "I'm not chasing Zurdo specifically; I'm chasing the belts and if he loses his belts in this fight, I'm chasing that guy," Opetaia said after moving to 28-0. Kostya Tszyu became undisputed light-welterweight champion in 2001 while George Kambosos Jnr held four of five lightweight belts when he stunned Teofimo Lopez 20 years later. "Undisputed is the top, there's no better. And once we do that ... there's another two categories to win world titles," Opetaia said of his grand plans. "A three-division world champion sounds good to me. Maybe even a super-fight with (light heavyweight champion) Bivol. There's so many exciting fights to make. "But everything is all talk, unless we keep winning." Opetaia, barring a warring defeat of Briedis in last year's rematch, has done that mercilessly since first becoming world champion. "Once I get another belt around my waist it's going to be a whole new chapter," he predicted. "Squeo coming out here (and losing), is proving what I already know. "Everyone's always bad-mouthing ... my opposition. Just because I beat them the way I beat them, I'm always getting it. "When I get my hands on one (world champion) and put on that clinic, everyone is going to go, 'F***, this kid is good'." Squeo gave away large height and weight advantages to Opetaia but, at 17-0 and boasting knockout power, remained a threat. That was until Opetaia worked over the Italian's body in the fourth round and then connected with a sweet right hook when Squeo was boxed into a corner in the fifth round. "I heard the punch break his jaw and was like, "F***, you poor bastard'," he said. "I know how that feels, being here and getting your jaw broken." Opetaia will sit ringside in California when two-division world champion Ramirez features on the Jake Paul undercard on June 28. "When I see him I'll probably shake his hand, introduce myself," Opetaia said. "I'm not here to talk shit ... I'm chasing greatness, which I think all world champions should be."
The Advertiser
06-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Ready for war': Aussie Opetaia alert to Italian ambush
Like the 27 challengers who have come before him, Jai Opetaia is swatting away Claudio Squeo's threat to derail the Australian boxing superstar's undisputed world title dream. Opetaia (27-0, 21KOs) will place his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight belts on the line against the unbeaten Squeo (17-0, 9KOs) on Sunday. Despite entering the bout as a 15-1 underdog, the Italian is promising to prove the doubters wrong and pull off one of boxing's great boilovers at the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre. "This is a big opportunity to shock the world, the people writing you off," Squeo said through a translator on Friday. But with a multi-million-dollar pay day and a place in Australian boxing immortality also at stake, Opetaia is having none of it. With much bigger fish to fry, the 29-year-old is vowing to win whatever way is required, knowing a loss is non negotiable ahead of a succession of potential super fights that could propel him to Hall of Fame status. "I believe I can beat him in the pocket, I believe I can outbox him. We are just going to fight smart," Opetai said. "We've got to choose our battles and just wait til Sunday." The fight comes almost three years after a then-unfancied Opetaia defied two jaw fractures to beat champion Mairis Briedis and claim his two straps. Opetaia has fought five times since, with the Briedis rematch last year his only genuine challenge, and is yet to land a shot at the other three belts in his division. Badou Jack owns the WBC belt but it is WBO and WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez who is firmly in Opetaia's sights. The Mexican two-weight champion is due for a mandatory defence later this month and insistent he will face Opetaia next. Should both win, as most predict they will, Opetaia will be in line to finally secure a unification blockbuster against Ramirez later this year. An Opetaia-Ramirez mega-money four-belt stoush would sit nicely on the undercard to September's historic duel between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. Little wonder why Opetai's priority is to see off Squeo however he needs to, saying he's even ready to slug it out for 12 full rounds if that's what it takes. "Once that bell goes every time, man, it's on and I'm ready for 12 rounds of war," he said. "I've got no doubt he's going to come forward. That's got to be his game plan. "We've just got to be patient. We just stick to our game plan, do what we do and we put on clinics. "So on Sunday, I love to put on a clinic. We always do the goods, we always put on good performances. "We are some hard-noses. We've been in the trenches the last couple of weeks. I'm riding in the wave. You know how I train to stop people." Like the 27 challengers who have come before him, Jai Opetaia is swatting away Claudio Squeo's threat to derail the Australian boxing superstar's undisputed world title dream. Opetaia (27-0, 21KOs) will place his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight belts on the line against the unbeaten Squeo (17-0, 9KOs) on Sunday. Despite entering the bout as a 15-1 underdog, the Italian is promising to prove the doubters wrong and pull off one of boxing's great boilovers at the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre. "This is a big opportunity to shock the world, the people writing you off," Squeo said through a translator on Friday. But with a multi-million-dollar pay day and a place in Australian boxing immortality also at stake, Opetaia is having none of it. With much bigger fish to fry, the 29-year-old is vowing to win whatever way is required, knowing a loss is non negotiable ahead of a succession of potential super fights that could propel him to Hall of Fame status. "I believe I can beat him in the pocket, I believe I can outbox him. We are just going to fight smart," Opetai said. "We've got to choose our battles and just wait til Sunday." The fight comes almost three years after a then-unfancied Opetaia defied two jaw fractures to beat champion Mairis Briedis and claim his two straps. Opetaia has fought five times since, with the Briedis rematch last year his only genuine challenge, and is yet to land a shot at the other three belts in his division. Badou Jack owns the WBC belt but it is WBO and WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez who is firmly in Opetaia's sights. The Mexican two-weight champion is due for a mandatory defence later this month and insistent he will face Opetaia next. Should both win, as most predict they will, Opetaia will be in line to finally secure a unification blockbuster against Ramirez later this year. An Opetaia-Ramirez mega-money four-belt stoush would sit nicely on the undercard to September's historic duel between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. Little wonder why Opetai's priority is to see off Squeo however he needs to, saying he's even ready to slug it out for 12 full rounds if that's what it takes. "Once that bell goes every time, man, it's on and I'm ready for 12 rounds of war," he said. "I've got no doubt he's going to come forward. That's got to be his game plan. "We've just got to be patient. We just stick to our game plan, do what we do and we put on clinics. "So on Sunday, I love to put on a clinic. We always do the goods, we always put on good performances. "We are some hard-noses. We've been in the trenches the last couple of weeks. I'm riding in the wave. You know how I train to stop people." Like the 27 challengers who have come before him, Jai Opetaia is swatting away Claudio Squeo's threat to derail the Australian boxing superstar's undisputed world title dream. Opetaia (27-0, 21KOs) will place his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight belts on the line against the unbeaten Squeo (17-0, 9KOs) on Sunday. Despite entering the bout as a 15-1 underdog, the Italian is promising to prove the doubters wrong and pull off one of boxing's great boilovers at the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre. "This is a big opportunity to shock the world, the people writing you off," Squeo said through a translator on Friday. But with a multi-million-dollar pay day and a place in Australian boxing immortality also at stake, Opetaia is having none of it. With much bigger fish to fry, the 29-year-old is vowing to win whatever way is required, knowing a loss is non negotiable ahead of a succession of potential super fights that could propel him to Hall of Fame status. "I believe I can beat him in the pocket, I believe I can outbox him. We are just going to fight smart," Opetai said. "We've got to choose our battles and just wait til Sunday." The fight comes almost three years after a then-unfancied Opetaia defied two jaw fractures to beat champion Mairis Briedis and claim his two straps. Opetaia has fought five times since, with the Briedis rematch last year his only genuine challenge, and is yet to land a shot at the other three belts in his division. Badou Jack owns the WBC belt but it is WBO and WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez who is firmly in Opetaia's sights. The Mexican two-weight champion is due for a mandatory defence later this month and insistent he will face Opetaia next. Should both win, as most predict they will, Opetaia will be in line to finally secure a unification blockbuster against Ramirez later this year. An Opetaia-Ramirez mega-money four-belt stoush would sit nicely on the undercard to September's historic duel between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. Little wonder why Opetai's priority is to see off Squeo however he needs to, saying he's even ready to slug it out for 12 full rounds if that's what it takes. "Once that bell goes every time, man, it's on and I'm ready for 12 rounds of war," he said. "I've got no doubt he's going to come forward. That's got to be his game plan. "We've just got to be patient. We just stick to our game plan, do what we do and we put on clinics. "So on Sunday, I love to put on a clinic. We always do the goods, we always put on good performances. "We are some hard-noses. We've been in the trenches the last couple of weeks. I'm riding in the wave. You know how I train to stop people."
