Australian boxer Jai Opetaia has retained his undefeated record after stopping Italy’s Claudio Squeo in the fifth round of their cruiserweight bout on Sunday.
The fight took place at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Queensland, where Opetaia delivered a dominant performance from the opening round. Judges had him ahead on all scorecards before the stoppage.
In the fifth round, a clean right hook landed flush and sent Squeo to one knee. He was unable to beat the referee’s count, ending the bout by knockout.
Earlier rounds saw Opetaia dictate the pace, landing consistent shots while Squeo struggled to find openings. A controversial moment occurred in round four when Squeo appeared to go down from what was called a low blow, though replays suggested the punch was legal. Despite the break in action, Opetaia quickly regained momentum and maintained pressure.
With the win, Opetaia improves his professional record and strengthens his position in the cruiserweight division.
The fight brings him another step closer to unifying the titles after giving up the IBF belt last year over scheduling issues.
Next on his list is WBA and WBO champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, as he pushes to collect all four major cruiserweight titles. He’s also eyeing a move to heavyweight, with a potential clash against Oleksandr Usyk down the line.
