RCM Prospect of the Month Nov. 2019 Australian Cruiserweight Jai Opetaia is On Fire
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Rising southpaw Samoan Australian cruiserweight prospect Jai Opetaia of New South Wales, Australia, now 19-0 with 15 knockouts, is on fire. His latest victory, on November 16, 2019, an eighth-round stoppage of Mark Flanagan at Hordern Pavillion in Sydney, Australia, to retain the World Boxing Association Oceania Cruiserweight title, was a gutsy and impressive performance.
Opetaia is the Real Combat Media prospect of the month for November 2019. He remains relatively unknown outside of his native Australia, and untested at the higher level. Opetaia appears to be about a year or two away from a world title opportunity at age 24. A fourth-generation boxer, Opetaia is Australia’s best fighter in the 200-pound division since Danny Green. A 2012 Olympian, Opetaia remains somewhat of a Les Darcy style mystery because he remains a relative unknown in the west. A few more big wins in 2020 and 2021 could change the tide. Opetaia remains a major prospect to watch in the future.
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