Jai Opetaia defends his IBF cruiserweight title against his mandatory challenger, Huseyin Cinkara, this Saturday, December sixth, on DAZN.
Viewed because the most-avoided fighter within the cruiserweight division, Opetaia (28-0, 22 KOs) is stuck with one other lackluster opponent, defending against 40-year-old Cinkara (23-0, 19 KOs) on the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Australia.
Cinkara by Default
It’s not the fight that Opetaia wanted. He’s been calling out WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo ‘ Ramirez, attempting to get him to comply with a unification. It hasn’t worked. He’s ignored Jai’s repeated callouts, and it’s reached the purpose where it’s forlorn.
Ramirez is defending against David Benavidez next on May 2, 2026. Even Benavidez seems reluctant to fight Opetaia. When Benavidez was asked about his interest in fighting Opetaia at his post-fight press conference on November 22, 2025, after his win over Anthony Yarde, he suddenly appeared nervous. He blurted a non-answer, “I’m here to prove myself.” The look on Benavidez’s face was like someone having their feet put to the hearth.
Benavidez Hesitates
Benavidez’s body language was defensive and evasive, like an individual being put under brilliant lights during an interrogation. Moments before, he’d seemed confident. talking about his fight with ‘Zurdo’s Ramirez. But when Opetaia was brought up, his mood modified. It gave fans the opinion that Benavidez has no intention of fighting Jai and can dodge him because the others have done at cruiserweight.
Ducking Culture
That was one other example of how Opetaia affects fighters. He’s clearly the boogeyman of the cruiserweight division, and a fighter who’s treated like a leper by the highest guys within the division. The ducking culture on this weight class is an issue and has held Jai back from getting the fights that he needs.
Opetaia comes into Saturday’s fight with three straight knockouts dating back to 2024. None of the blokes he’s beaten have been the massive names that he’s wanted. This was all he could get:
- Claudio Squeo
- David Nyika
- Jack Massey
Last Updated on 12/01/2025