Jai Opetaia (27-0) puts his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles on the line against undefeated Italian Claudio Squeo (17-0) this Sunday.
Fighting for the second time in a row at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, following his January knockout win over David Nyika, the southpaw represents a tough baptism of fire for Squeo, who competes outside of his homeland for the first time as a pro.
It's not the unification fight Opetaia has been chasing but the Australian is assuring his fans he's not overlooking the stocky slugger from Puglia.
"He's dangerous. I've seen he's been icing some people in some of his prior fights," Opetaia told Sporting News.
"I've got no doubt he's fit and he's trained his arse off. When they come to me, they know they're fighting the best.
"I've trained for a better version of him than anyone's seen. I know when they've got world titles in front of them, they dig a bit deeper and they push a bit harder. "
Jai Opetaia vs. Claudio Squeo odds and markets
Per Sportsbet, the champion is an unbackable $1.01, while Squeo is a rank outsider at $26, with the draw priced at $51.
Opetaia vs. Squeo top markets
| Opetaia | Squeo | |
| KO/TKO | $1.06 | $34 |
| Points | $9.75 | $81 |
Opetaia vs. Squeo round betting
| Round | Opetaia | Squeo |
| 1 | $4.60 | $101 |
| 2 | $4.60 | $101 |
| 3 | $5.25 | $101 |
| 4 | $7.25 | $101 |
| 5 | $10 | $101 |
| 6 | $14 | $101 |
| 7 | $19 | $101 |
| 8 | $26 | $101 |
| 9 | $34 | $101 |
| 10 | $46 | $101 |
| 11 | $71 | $101 |
| 12 | $101 | $101 |
Jai Opetaia vs. Claudio Squeo fight prediction
While the odds suggest this is only going one way, we don't expect things to be as easy for Opetaia as they suggest.
Squeo's style can best be described as compact and aggressive.
The challenger will be giving away at least four inches (10cm) in height and reach, which can make for a tricky problem to solve for the taller fighter.
Opetaia is at his best when he boxes long and moves, showcasing the kind of athleticism and speed that few, if any, can match at cruiserweight.
If Squeo can get the fight on his terms, closing the distance and forcing Opetaia back while throwing a barrage of wide power shots, he may be able to find moments of success in the early stages.
Opetaia, however, has shown an ability to change gears and approach when necessary and should be able to figure out his opponent quickly enough.
Having never been stopped, or defeated, it's difficult to get a read on Squeo's durability, but he sure as hell looks like he can take a shot and he won't have come all the way to Australia to lie down.
We're tipping the champ to get the job done after a few rounds of willing action.