Jai Opetaia Breaks Claudio Squeo’s Jaw, Retains IBF Cruiserweight Title, Eyes Gilberto Ramirez – Video
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Broadbeach, Australia (June 9th, 2026)– Jai Opetaia won all five rounds down under over a much shorter Italian challenger, Claudio Squeo, breaking Squeo’s jaw with a powerful right hook which sent Squeo to his knees for the 10 count at 36 seconds of round five, to retain the World Boxing Organisation World Cruiserweight title, in the main event at Gold Coast Convention Centre in his native Broadbeach, Australia, on June 8, 2025.
Opetaia, now 28-0 with 22 knockouts, Gold Coast, Australia, a 6’2” southpaw with 76” reach, appeared to tower over the ‘supposed’ slightly shorter 5’10” Squeo, 17-1 with nine knockouts, Molfeta, Italy, whose limited reach and obviously smaller stature made him a sitting duck target for Opetaia’s jab target practice. Squeo has to be given credit for taking the bout without reserve on Opetaia’s backyard, a bold challenge against any respected champion.
A critical moment came in a blatant round four foul, when Opetaia held Squeo behind the head with the right hand and then threw a left hand body shot. Squeo went down grimacing on one knee. Referee Robert Hoyle ruled no knockdown, and warned Opetaia for holding and hitting, giving Squeo, standing and still grimacing in pain, a rest period to recover. If Squeo went down from the punch and did not get up, Opetaia could possibly have been disqualified.
Opetaia is now calling out World Boxing Organization World Cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez for a unification match, which would be contingent on Ramirez successfully retaining his title in his next bout with Cuban challenger Yunier Dorticos, the former International Boxing Federation World Cruiserweight champion, at Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on June 30, 2025.
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