Australia’s Jai Opetaia could find himself in the crosshairs of undisputed light heavyweight king Artur Beterbiev as soon as this Sunday – with a potential showdown now part of a huge 2025 for several Aussies including himself, Tim Tszyu and Brock Jarvis.
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 | SUN 23 FEB 2:30AM AEDT | Artur Beterbiev puts his undisputed light heavyweight championship on the line in a rematch with former champ Dmitry Bivol. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
The championship challenge also comes as Beterbiev, on the eve of what is being dubbed one of boxing’s greatest ever cards, has also taken yet another shot at heavyweight UK promoter Eddie Hearn overnight.
Only four months after winning a hyped title showdown against Dmitry Bivol, 40-year-old Beterbiev is now readying to defend all four straps in a Riyadh rematch set to be shown live on Main Event and Kayo Sports.
Back in October, the two superstars put on a technical thriller, with Beterbiev eventually emerging victorious by majority decision — claiming the last three rounds according to all three ringside judges.
Should the champ win again this weekend, he has hinted at moving up in weight to challenge Opetaia, who is himself the reigning IBF and Ring cruiserweight champion.
Should that showdown materialise, it would sit among a host of big fights being either lined up or already sorted for several of the nation’s biggest names — including Tszyu, George Kambosos, Liam Wilson, Michael Zerafa and Brock Jarvis.
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While Wilson begins his push towards a third world title fight next Saturday – when he rematches Sydneysider Yousseff in Brisbane – it will then be Jarvis who headlines the first No Limit pay-per-view of the year against brash American Keith Thurman.
That fight will headline Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on March 12.
Then in April, Tszyu makes his hyped return to the ring against US prospect Joey Spencer, with a date and venue expected to be announced early this week.
And now this Sunday yet another Australian championship fight could be determined when Beterbiev defends against Bivol, that fellow star who sits in the promotional stable of Hearn.
Asked about the Englishman earlier this week, the Russian champ shrugged: “Who is Eddie Hearn?”.
And it was that question the promoter was asked about himself on stage at a fight week press conference, which took place in Riyadh around 5am on Friday morning (AEST).
“I did see that interview,” Hearn replied, smile widening when asked about the jibe. “And I was a bit sad to be honest with you.
“I thought Artur Beterbiev said ‘Who is Eddie Hearn?’ (because) … look, you don’t know what to believe these days but there are unconfirmed reports that back in Canada, Artur Beterbiev does own a copy of my book.
“He also bought the latest Men’s Health magazine with me on the cover.
“And, has pre-ordered the Eddie Hearn pyjamas that drop in 2025. So we don’t know what to believe …”
Then, after a short pause, the promoter continued: “But in all seriousness, we try to have a little bit of fun.
“Artur Beterbiev is one of the great fighters of our generation.
“I respect him as a champion.
“But we’re desperate for victory (on Sunday) and may the best man win.”
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And as for how the champ replied?
“I don’t understand what he say,” he laughed.
At which point, an interpreter tried to describe Eddie Hearn pyjamas.
“It’s not true,” Beterbiev continued, still grinning.
Yet Hearn, he wasn’t done.
“I was just saying we’re friends,” the promoter said from across the table.
Beterbiev: “I can’t say anything, like you always say anything …”
Hearn: “I know”.
Beterbiev: “What do you want to say always like this?”
Hearn: “I was just saying that deep down, we’re very good friends.”
Beterbiev: “Yes, of course. You give me opponents and I beat them …”
Boom!
At which point, and with much laughter in the room, even Hearn seemed, momentarily, lost for words.
“There you go,” he eventually grinned. “So we’re friendly.”
Beterbiev: “We do good business. Inshallah, may it continue.”
Hearn: “You’ve been planning that one.”
All of which is the perfect lead-in to a huge Sunday card.
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One where, in the co-main, IBF heavyweight champ Daniel Dubois defends against Joseph Parker and, in the fight before that, American Shakur Stevenson puts his WBC lightweight crown up against Josh Padley.
Further down the stacked bill, Hamzah Sheeraz challenges Carlos Adames for the WBC middleweight title and Victor Ortiz Jnr – who not so long ago was supposed to fight Tim Tszyu – will defend his interim WBC super welterweight strap against Israil Madrimov.
That fight, like the main event, could eventually have big ramifications for Australia’s biggest fight names.
Speaking with Pro Boxing Fans earlier this week, Beterbiev was asked if a fight against Opetaia excited him.
“Yeah, I am open to this fight,” he replied. “We will see in the future.”
Already, powerhouse Saudi boxing man Turki Alalshikh has spoken of his desire to see Opetaia, who he has worked with now several times, face against whoever wins Sunday’s hyped rematch.
“This is what I hope to have,” he said. “We need to see this fight.”
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Only last month, Opetaia kicked off 2025 with a brutal KO finish of David Nyika – a fight he accepted on three weeks’ notice after initial opponent, Huseyin Cinkara, was outed with a broken ankle.
Immediately after his Gold Coast win, Opetaia called out current WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.
“Ramirez, I’m coming for the belts,” he said. “We’re coming for the rest of the belts.”
Opetaia is also co-promoted by Hearn, who has also spoken of the Central Coast product eventually moving up to face heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
“Jai’s going to pick up all the belts in the cruiserweight division to become undisputed,” Hearn said recently. “And then we want to push him into a fight with Oleksandr Usyk as well to try and become undisputed at heavyweight division as well”.
Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 | SUN 23 FEB 2:30AM AEDT | Artur Beterbiev puts his undisputed light heavyweight championship on the line in a rematch with former champ Dmitry Bivol. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
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