As expected, Jai Opetaia was too good for Claudio Squeo, knocking the Italian challenger out in the fifth round.
The Australian retained his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles with the dominant stoppage victory at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on Sunday night, closing the show with a right hook which broke Squeo’s jaw.
Many had predicted Opetaia to make light work of the stocky slugger, who was a $26 rank outsider, but Squeo’s height and tricky style meant the southpaw had to bide his time, at least for a few rounds anyway.
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With Squeo dealt with, Opetaia can now safely refocus his sights on a unification fight.
The destructive southpaw is set to travel to Anaheim, California later this month to sit ringside for WBC and WBO champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez’s fight with Yuniel Dorticos, hoping to push his case to square off with the Mexican.
Should Ramirez get through that fight, Opetaia’s team are eyeing off an October date for the potential unification bout.
In the chief support, Conor Wallace survived a scare against Dylan Colin, overcoming a suspected busted eardrum in the second, as well as a trick opponent, to come away with a unanimous decision victory.
On the undercard, Tyler Blizzard outpointed domestic rival Rocky Ogden to claim the IBF Pan Pacific featherweight strap.
Earlier, young super middleweight Max McIntyre moved to 9-0 with a sixth-round knockout of Ricaia Warren.
The 20-year-old is developing into one Australia’s brightest prospects, with fights against fellow undefeated rising stars Kirra Ruston and Callum Peters surely on the horizon.
Catch up on all the results below:
Opetaia vs. Squeo full card results
- Jai Opetaia def. Claudio Squeo via TKO5
- Conor Wallace def. Dylan Colin via UD8 (77-75 x2, 78-74)
- Tyler Blizzard def. Rocky Ogden via UD10 (99-91 x2, 98-92)
- Danny Keating def. Blake Minto via UD10 (100-90 x3)
- Max McIntyre def. Ricaia Warren via TKO6
- Austin Aokuso def. Ikenna Enyi via UD6 (58-55, 60-53, 59-53)
- Mariah Turner def. Leah Reuben via UD8 (77-75 x2, 80-72)
- Xavier Fletcher def. Alivereti Dodomo via TKO2
- Jack Gregory def. Matt Floyd via UD4 (40-36 x3)
What time is Opetaia vs. Squeo?
The pair are due to meet at Gold Coast Convention Centre on Sunday, June 8.
Action is due to begin from 4:30pm AEST, with Opetaia and Squeo expected in the ring for the main event some time after 10pm, depending on the length of earlier bouts.
How to watch Opetaia vs. Squeo
Opetaia vs. Squeo will be broadcast live globally on streaming platform DAZN.
WATCH: Opetaia vs. Squeo on DAZN