Jai Opetaia and Jordan Thompson went face to face at the final press conference ahead of their showdown for the IBF cruiserweight world title at the OVO Arena Wembley this Saturday September 30, shown live worldwide on DAZN. (photos by Mark Robinson)
The undefeated pair headline a huge World Title doubleheader this weekend that also sees undefeated IBF Super-Bantamweight World Champion Ellie Scotney put her World Title on the line against Argentina’s Laura Soledad Griffa, while rising Cruiserweight contender Cheavon Clarke meets former Thompson opponent Vasil Ducer for the IBF International Title.
Australia’s Opetaia (22-0 17 KOs) wrestled the IBF and Ring Magazine World Cruiserweight Titles away from Mairis Briedis on home turf with an outstanding display in Queensland in July 2022, outboxing the Latvian with a show of skill mixed with guts after breaking his jaw in both the second and final rounds.
Manchester’s Thompson (15-0, 12 KOs), trained by Tony Sims at the Matchroom Boxing Elite Gym in Brentwood, Essex, heads into his first shot at world honours on the back of a dominating sixth-round TKO win over Swindon’s Luke Watkins at the Cardiff International Arena back in April.
