World cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia has been forced to postpone his fourth title defense for the IBF and Ring Magazine belts because of a minor injury.
The 29-year-old boxer was preparing for his second fight this year at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Queensland, Australia, originally scheduled for May 13th.
In January, Opetaia engaged in a thrilling fight with David Nyika, which he won with a powerful fourth-round knockout.
However, despite plans for a quick return to the ring against Claudio Squeo, Opetaia, with a record of 27 wins and no losses (21 KOs), will now have to wait until June 8th to continue his dominant run in the 200lbs division.
Details about the injury are still limited, but his manager and co-promoter, Mick Francis from Tasman Fighters, stated in a press release:
“Knowing Jai`s intensity in the ring, he approaches every opponent seriously. He needs to be in peak condition to defend his IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight world titles.”
“Following doctor`s advice, we have moved the fight date back by three weeks to ensure Jai is fully fit for the match.”
With the delay being just under four weeks, it seems the injury Opetaia sustained during training is not serious.
His opponent, Claudio Squeo, might see this delay as a chance to catch his breath, as the Italian fighter is still early in his training camp.
Regardless, Squeo, with a record of 17 wins and no losses (9 KOs), whose victories have come against weaker opponents, will likely face a significant challenge on fight night.
Ultimately, Opetaia is expected to handle this fight decisively before pursuing a more significant bout against unified champion Gilberto Ramirez.
