Claudio Squeo of Italy demonstrated undeniable toughness and a willingness to engage, but he ultimately found the powerful punches of Jai Opetaia too much to handle in their recent fight.
Once the IBF cruiserweight champion, Opetaia, found his rhythm and the optimal way to land his shots, the outcome seemed all but decided. Despite this, Squeo pressed forward relentlessly until a perfectly placed body shot in the fourth round sent him down. From that moment on, his fate in the fight was sealed.
Following his victory, Opetaia expressed frustration regarding the pursuit of a unification bout, specifically naming Gilbert ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez as his desired opponent. For Squeo, the devastating finishing hook resulted in a severely broken jaw. Encouragingly, reports indicate he is already looking to return to the ring.
Despite his warrior spirit, Squeo was significantly outmatched, suffering his first professional defeat after a sequence of 17 straight wins. Apart from a points win over Niklas Rasanen in 2024 (during which he was dropped), the fighter known as ‘Red Bull’ had not faced notable opposition. His position as a fringe contender with the IBF secured him this opportunity, and he fought with commendable effort despite the disparity in class.
As for Opetaia, a fight against Ramirez is highly important for the 29-year-old champion, who is in his prime and seeking a challenge that will remind the boxing world of the elite skills he showcased in his demanding bouts against Mairis Briedis.
