Jai Opetaia Agrees Cruiserweight Title Defense Against Undefeated Huseyin Cinkara

Jai Opetaia, the unbeaten IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion from Australia, is focusing on unifying the cruiserweight division before considering a move to heavyweight. His team is targeting a title defense against former WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith, potentially on the undercard of the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn rematch in December, and they have offered mandatory challenger Huseyin Cinkara step-aside money to facilitate this fight. Despite rumors of a heavyweight move, Opetaia has agreed to defend his cruiserweight titles against Cinkara in Australia, with the bout expected to be announced soon. Promoter Eddie Hearn and Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis emphasize the goal of unification within the cruiserweight division while also acknowledging heavyweight opportunities in the future, including potential fights against notable heavyweights like Derek Chisora. Opetaia's recent victories and dominant position in the cruiserweight rankings have solidified his status as the division's top fighter, and he remains committed to securing the biggest fights available. Meanwhile, heavyweight interest surrounds Opetaia, but for now, the focus remains on cruiserweight unification before any divisional leap.