From working as the “janitor on the work site” to defending his world title and chasing unification bouts, Jai Opetaia has come a long way.
The southpaw knockout artist faces undefeated Italian Claudio Squeo on the Gold Coast this Sunday, looking to keep a hold of his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight world titles.
Now 29, Opetaia remains on the cusp of domestic and international superstardom, but the Aussie’s journey hasn’t been a smooth one.
MORE: ‘How long can he last?’: Opetaia lays down challenge to undefeated opponent
While speaking to the media following his open workout on Thursday, an impromptu reunion kickstarted a trip down memory lane, with Opetaia catching the eye of a former work colleague.
“I just spotted a guy I used to work with, site cleaning,” Opetaia said.
“Working on the job sites, picking up rubbish.
“Not even that long ago, actually.
“We used to walk around the job sites picking up rubbish. We were the janitors of the work site, it was filthy. But I’m here now.”
It came as a reminder of the struggles the Gold Coast-based sensation had to overcome, even as he climbed the rankings towards a world title.
Now unanimously considered Australia’s best boxer, Opetaia’s skills and success are inspiring his contemporaries, many of whom will fight on his undercard on Sunday.
Austin Aokuso, who faces Ikenna Enyi in a clash between a pair of undefeated light heavyweights, has shared many sparring rounds with Opetaia and offered an insight into his level, while tipping him to overcome WBC and WBO champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez if he gets the chance.
“Jai’s relentless in there. You apply pressure, he’ll apply it back. You try to fight a dogfight with him, he’ll fight dogfight back,” Aokuso told Sporting News.
“Anything you’ll bring to the table, he’ll bring back 110 per cent more.
“After this fight, if he can get onto the unification with Ramirez, I think he’ll comfortably take him out.”
Enyi also sung Opetaia’s praises.
“I believe he’s borderline top 10 pound-for-pound, if he can get those unification fights that night solidify him in that position,” he said.
“Controlling range, that’s something that he does at the highest level.
“And he’s like a shark in there, he can smell blood when it’s in the water and he’ll go for the kill.”
Opetaia has his sights set on unifying the belts at 200-pounds before an expected jump up to heavyweight where he’s tipped for more success.
“He’s strong, he’s fast and, at that weight, to be moving that quickly, the footwork that he’s got, I don’t really see anyone that’s on that level,” super middleweight Max McIntyre said.
“He has a chance to beat [Oleksandr] Usyk. If anyone can beat him, I reckon he’s the guy.”
Ben Mahoney, too, believes Opetaia can be a factor if and when he makes the move to heavyweight.
“His movement, he’s up and down, he’s in and out, he mixes it up well, he’s tough, he’s fast, he counters well. He’s got it all,” Mahoney said.
“You look at guys like Andy Ruiz, the guys that are faster and more zippy, they have success. The world’s his oyster.”
Reflecting on his journey, from juggling his burgeoning boxing career with days on the work site to a 27-0 record and the brink of unification fights, Opetaia said his mission has remained the same.
“I’ve always had pressure, to get my family out of the struggle, to move forward in life, to level up. These random people that put pressure on me, means nothing,” he said.
“We’re at the table now, we’re sitting with the top dogs and we’re getting the respect that we deserve.”
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