Jai Opetaia will endure a lengthy layoff ahead of his first title defense.
The unbeaten lineal and IBF cruiserweight champion was granted a 60-day medical extension by the sanctioning body, which could impact his eventual fight with number-one contender Mateusz Masternak. Opetaia continues to recover from recent shoulder surgery, which prompted the request.
“On February 14, 2023, IBF Cruiserweight Champion Jai Opetaia requested a 60-day medical extension,” IBF spokesperson Jeanette Salazar confirmed in a provided statement from the sanctioning body on Saturday. “The request was approved and the extension will expire on June 1, 2023, pursuant to rule 5.D.3 of the IBF Rules Governing Championship Contests.
“The IBF is due to order Jai Opetaia to begin negotiations for his mandatory defense of the Cruiserweight title approximately on April 1, 2023, or sixty days prior to his mandatory due date. Jai Opetaia may request a Rule 11 Exception to extend his mandatory due date pursuant to this rule.”
Sydney’s Opetaia (22-0, 17KOs) pulled off a valiant upset win over three-time cruiserweight champ Mairis Briedis in their memorable championship fight last July 2 in Broadbeach, Australia. Judges John Basile (116-112), Steve Weisfeld (116-112) and Katsuhiko Nakamura (115-113) all scored in favor of Opetaia, who overcame a twice-broken jaw during their terrific fight to end Briedis’ title reign.
Poland’s Masternak (47-5, 31KOs) will enter what is surprisingly the first major title fight in his 17-year pro career. The 35-year-old from Wroclaw came up short in a June 2014 interim WBA cruiserweight title fight split decision loss to Youri Kalenga, a defeat he later avenged via sixth round knockout in April 2018. The fight preceded his entry in the second season of the World Boxing Super Series, where he lost a tightly contested unanimous decision in October 2018 to Yuniel Dorticos bookending his two separate title reigns.
Six straight wins have followed for Masternak, including a twelve-round, unanimous decision over unbeaten Jason Wheatley in their IBF title eliminator last October 29 in Zakopane, Poland.
Opetaia’s medical development comes at a point where the cruiserweight division is wide open. The division’s other three titlists are all in action within the next six weeks.
WBC titlist Ilunga ‘Junior’ Makabu defends versus former two-division champ Badou Jack on February 26 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. One month later, unbeaten WBO titleholder Lawrence Okolie will face New Zealand’s David Light (20-0, 12KOs) on March 25 in Manchester, England. Rounding out the list, WBA beltholder Arsen Goulamirian (27-0, 18KOs) is penciled in for an April 1 title defense versus a yet-to-be-named opponent.
Opetaia’s immediate goal after outpointing Briedis was to target the other champions. The ambition is in line with the history already created by the 27-year-old southpaw, who—at just 16—was the youngest Aussie to ever compete in the Olympics when he represented his nation in the 2012 London Games
For now, he will first have to get through Masternak—and only after he is fully healed and ready to resume his championship reign.
“It’s very frustrating to be held back by these small things we can’t control,” Opetaia noted prior to surgery. “But I will be back better and stronger and I will be coming to collect the rest of my belts.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox