Jai Opetaia in talks for January world title defence on home soil

Jai Opetaia, Australia’s pound-for-pound number one boxer, is believed to be in talks for a blockbuster homecoming world title fight to kick off the new year.

Sources close to the event have confirmed the final details are being worked through on a fight which would see the knockout artist face Germany’s Huseyin Cinkara in Australia in early January.

An official announcement with confirmation on the venue and exact date is expected in the coming weeks.

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Opetaia hasn’t fought on home soil since defeating Mairis Briedis to win the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles back in July 2022.

Since then, the standout southpaw has claimed four more wins, one in London and three in Riyadh, including another hard-fought victory over Briedis in their rematch back in May.

That run has seen the 29-year-old emerge as the biggest name in the 200-pound division, with fans calling for unification bouts.

Before Opetaia can target the other champions in the weight class, he’s been ordered to face Cinkara, the mandatory challenger with the IBF.

Undefeated through 22 bouts, with 18 wins coming by knockout, Cinkara packs a punch and will be out to spring an upset in what could be his one and only shot at world title gold.

Cinkara last fought in April, knocking out the 18-3 Armend Xhoxhaj inside two rounds in Nurnberg, Germany.

A January date would mean a quick backup for Opetaia, who brutalised Jack Massey on the way to a round six stoppage last month on the undercard to Artur Beterbiev’s win over Dmitry Bivol.

With a combined 38 KOs between the pair, an Opetaia-Cinkara showdown promises fireworks for as long as it might last.