“I’m making my Zuffa debut on March 8 right here within the APEX,” Opetaia stated in the course of the post-fight present with Molly Qerim and Mike Coppinger.
For Dana White, this bout carries extra weight than something that occurred on the launch card. That first present leaned on growing fighters and left the sense that the roster was skinny on the prime. The published regarded main, however the boxing itself fell brief, one thing Opetaia is now anticipated to appropriate together with his efficiency.
He arrives as a whole fighter, not somebody studying on the job. He’s already a champion who has handled elite opponents, tough negotiations, and lengthy nights.
Opetaia is 29-0 with 23 knockouts. He’s presently the one reigning world champion signed to Zuffa Boxing. That reality alone places stress on his debut. He is not only defending titles. He’s setting an early aggressive bar for the league.
His place within the cruiserweight division was earned. In July 2022, Opetaia outpointed Mairis Briedis in Australia to assert the lineal and RING championships. It was a tough battle in opposition to a confirmed champion, not a vacant belt state of affairs. One protection adopted earlier than enterprise issues intervened.
In late 2023, Opetaia was stripped of the IBF title following a December bout that fell exterior the IBF’s required path.
The problem was administrative. Their rematch resolved it within the ring. Opetaia and Briedis met once more in Might 2024 in Riyadh, and Opetaia gained one other clear twelve-round resolution.
These two fights stay the one occasions Opetaia has gone the space in eight championship bouts. Since then, his management has tightened. He has stopped his final 4 opponents, together with an eighth-round knockout of unbeaten obligatory challenger Huseyin Cinkara final December in Broadbeach.
That stretch coincided with a profession shift. Opetaia entered 2024 as a free agent, nonetheless tied to Tasman Fighters however and not using a world promotional house. Zuffa moved rapidly and signed him to a deal that enables appearances on each Zuffa playing cards and Riyadh Season occasions. That flexibility retains his choices open whereas preserving entry to unification fights.
“I believe Zuffa is gonna be a brand new chapter,” Opetaia stated. “They’re right here whether or not individuals prefer it or not. I wish to turn into Zuffa’s first undisputed champion.”
The objective suits his place. Cruiserweight unification is reasonable if the fights are made. The query just isn’t his ambition. It’s how Zuffa helps it. A brand new league doesn’t earn credibility by means of slogans. It earns it by matching champions appropriately and constantly.
Opetaia additionally understands the atmosphere he has entered. Throughout a current journey to Las Vegas, he frolicked round White and the Zuffa operation and got here away impressed.
“Being on this atmosphere has made me respect Dana White much more,” Opetaia stated.
March 8 is an easy take a look at. Zuffa Boxing wants a champion who seems like a champion on its stage. Opetaia has already confirmed he can try this elsewhere. One other sturdy efficiency would assist regular a league nonetheless in search of aggressive substance. Something much less retains the questions in place.
It’s a place he has held earlier than, and one he seems snug carrying into a brand new setting.
