Jai Opetaia admits he would relish a showdown with unified heavyweight world champion, Oleksandr Usyk in the future.
Opetaia regained the IBF cruiserweight world title with victory over Mairis Breidis, on the undercard of Usyk’s split decision victory over Tyson Fury in May, which saw the Ukrainian claim the undisputed heavyweight championship.
The Australian southpaw is gearing up to defend his belt against Jack Massey on the undercard of the undisputed light heavyweight title clash between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol on October 12 in Saudi Arabia.
And the 29-year-old insists he would be open to a meeting with Usyk, who faces Fury for a second time on December 21, also in Saudi Arabia.
“Respectfully I would love to share the ring with him,” Opetaia told talkSPORT.
“When I fought here in the London Olympic Games, he won the division that I was in.
“I’ve always been close to the top.
“I’ve always been just in the dark corners and just scratching and clawing, waiting for my opportunities.
“I would respectfully love to fight a fighter like that and I feel like I do have the style to beat him.”
Opetaia sparred with Fury in preparation for his bout with Usyk, with rumours circulating at the time that he dropped ‘The Gypsy King’, although all parties have denied this to be the case.
The undefeated Sydney man had been targeting a unification fight with WBO champion, Chris Billam-Smith, but the Bournemouth man will instead unify with WBA holder, Gilberto Ramirez on November 16 in Riyadh.
Opetaia came face-to-face with Massey at a press conference in London last week and despite potential bigger fights on the horizon, he insists he is not overlooking the Brit, who is coming off arguably a career-best victory over Isaac Chamberlain in June to win the Commonwealth and European cruiserweight titles.
“I’m expecting a tough fight,” he added.
“I think he’s very durable. He’s a hungry lad and seeing into his eyes at the press conference, it means something to him.
“So I’m expecting some deep waters.
“I’m locked in. 12th October. Jack Massey.
“So this is my number one priority.
“I have to win.”
