It wasn’t pretty, and he was far from happy afterwards, but Jai Opetaia has defended his IBF and The Ring cruiserweight world titles on the Gold Coast.
The IBF and The Ring champion was left bloodied and with badly swollen eyes after knocking out the game German challenger Hüseyin Cinkara in the eighth round with a monstrous left.
Cinkara, 40, was left prone on the canvas for a number of minutes as medics flooded to deal with him.
And although Opetaia was clearly pleased to have won, the 30-year-old was cut a frustrated figure afterwards, denying media admittance to his dressing room after the fight before heading to hospital for checks.
Part of his frustration may have stemmed from the awkward nature of the previously unbeaten 40-year-old’s style.
But he was far angrier about being off the pace, the man who exacts such high standards furious that his body refused to answer his call.
Jai Opetaia knocked out Huseyin Cinkara. (AAP Image: Zain Mohammed)
There are other things that will impact Opetaia’s performance.
His grandfather, Billy Opetaia, is unwell. The unification fights against WBO and WBA champion Gilberto Ramírez seem as distant as if Opetaia was a featherweight. His former coach Keri Fui passed away less than a month ago.
And he has fought three times this year.
Opetaia should be happy that, backed by a capacity crowd, he was still able to produce the goods to get the win.
Because it could have been even worse for Opetaia.
Cinkara sent a shock wave reverberating through the Gold Coast Convention Centre by walloping the Australian with a monstrous shot of his own in the second that had the champion rocking backwards towards the ropes.
The intake of breath from the capacity crowd may had been enough to shock Opetaia into action, with the champion regathering himself quickly.
Opetaia dominated the majority of every round and, by virtue of his impressive work rate and powerful body shots, ensured his eighth world title defence was a successful one.
Jai Opetaia and Huseyin Cinkara show their respect to each other post-fight. (Getty Images: Matt Roberts)
But the clashes of heads that caused gashes to open on the champions’ face simply added to the discomfort to what was, in his mind, a disappointing display.
“I feel like I’ve let some people down with that performance,” Opetaia said in the ring.
“I just feel like I wasn’t myself, I felt like I boxed like shit.
“There was so many mistakes, I’m so pissed off.
“But we got the win.”
Opetaia’s promoter, Mick Francis renewed calls for Ramírez to front up for a unification fight, for which Opetaia will need to improve dramatically for, should it ever get made.
Moloney, Teremoana claim wins
Jason Moloney is back in the winner’s circle. (AAP Image: Zain Mohammed)
Earlier, former bantamweight world champion Jason Moloney claimed a TKO victory after successive defeats in Japan to get his career back on track.
Then, Paris Olympian Teremoana Teremoana flattened his latest heavyweight opponent inside a round to move to a professional record of 9-0.
In the co-main event, 21-year-old Max McIntyre continued his ascent with a knock out victory over Jed Morris to win the WBC Australasian super middleweight title.
Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key Events
(Un)happy Opetaia
Thanks for being with us
The medics are with Jai Opetaia, and we’re next in, so we’ll say good bye for now.
Thanks for being with us, we’ll see you next time.
Praise for Opetaia
Great Blogging Simon. Jai is a phenomenal fighter with pure skill & a very tough pain threshold. Would like to see him work on a little more shoulder strength to have that knockout hook or right cross instead of relying upon the overhead haymaker. I love supporting our boys, I should get more involved. ALL of us who support The Opetaia tornado want him to have the ability to knock out all challengers..
– alistair gibb
Cinkara has no doubt Opetaia will unify division
Here is the challenger.
“I have no doubt that he will win all the belts,” Cinkara says in the ring, via a translator.
He says he came for a war and he got one.
It’s so good to see him up on his feet.
That knock out was savage.
‘I boxed like shit’: Opetaia
Here is Jai Opetaia.
“I feel like I’ve let some people down with that performance,” he says.
“That might draw some people out to fight me.
“I just feel like I wasn’t myself, I felt like I boxed like shit.
“There was so many mistakes, I’m so pissed off.
“But we got the win.”
He says he needs to go back to the gym and iron out those mistakes.
He says the corner wasn’t very positive at times because of his errors.
“I’m gunna come back and I’ll be better,” he says.
OPETAIA WINS BY KNOCK OUT!
A left hand from the depths of his reserves has flattened Cinkara, who is completely out for the count.
The German fighter is in a lot of trouble here and people are rushing into the ring to check on him.
The referee waved it off instantly and there is a lot of concern.
It was a stunning shot from Opetaia.
Cinkara is up in a sitting position. Thank goodness. He was knocked half way back to Europe with that shot.
Astonishing stuff.
Cinkara is up now and has walked over to Opetaia to congratulate him.
Opetaia vs Cinkara, Round 8
Opetaia jabs to the body, forcing Cinkara back to the corner.
Good body shot from Opetaia, a wet slap of a shot into the sternum.
BANG! DOWN GOES CINKARA!
He looks to be slowing
quick look at cinkaras fight record shows he hasnt had many fights that have gone the distance. this will be a good test for hm also
– alistair gibb
He’s not had as many fights as Opetaia but he is 40 years old.
This pace is starting to tell, as are those body shots.
Opetaia vs Cinkara, Round 7
Left right from Opetaia land.
Cinkara responds with a jab to the head of Opetaia that has sweat flying.
Good body jab from Opetaia.
Good head shot from Opetaia.
Cinkara jabs, the power has gone out of those shots now – is he foxing a bit? Who knows.
They clinch and Opetaia lands to the head.
Solid shot from Opetaia as Cinkara trampolines off the ropes.
Cinkara is forced into the corner and Opetaia looks poised but Cinkara grapples his way out.
Opetaia lands with the jab, twice and then spins Cinkara.
There is a lot of redness around the right eye of the champion.
Good body shot from Opetaia.
CInkara lands to the body.
BANG! GOOD SHOT FROM OPETAIA TO THE BODY!
Good round.
Opetaia vs Cinkara, Round 6
Left from Opetaia lands behind the jab.
Now a jab lands – and Cinkara slips again in a clinch.
Good left from Opetaia, a stiff jab that rocks the German against the ropes.
Good three-punch combo from Opetaia.
Solid body shot now as Cinkara moves his head out of range but leaves his body exposed.
Opetaia does it again.
That will wear Cinkara out a bit, absorbing those shots.
Two left hooks to the body from Opetaia.
Jab from Cikiara. A cuffing right from Opetaia.
Opetaia just misses with a lunging left that could have taken the head off a bronze statue.
HE DOESN’T MISS THAT TIME THOUGH!
AND NEITHER DOES HE THERE AS OPETAIA LANDS AT WILL WITH CINKARA ON THE ROPES!
This German is tough, taking the shots with the assistance of the ropes.
Opetaia is controlling the ring
Who’s winning the footwork battle and controlling space better?
– Matt
But he is having to be careful of over committing.
Opetaia vs Cinkara, Round 5
Opetaia looks stoic but there is reddening around the eyes.
Some of these shots are taking their toll I think.
He has had the better of every rounds barring perhaps the second, but he has to be careful.
BIG SHOT FROM OPETAIA! But Cinkara wears it and responds in kind!
Opetaia is landed on the eye with the left. And again. Cinkara is targeting that eye which is red now.
Cinkara goes down in a clinch but it was just a slip again.
Good shot from Opetaia.
Cinkara’s accurate jab is causing some issues. It’s surgical stuff.
Cinkara looks a bit gassed now – is Opetaia’s pressure starting to tell.
Good shot from Opetaia, who misses with a couple of rights.
He misses another right.
He lands with that one to the body though.
Good fight this – Opetaia is having to work hard.
Opetaia vs Cinkara, Round 4
Opetaia is clipped by Cinkara but landed the heavier blow as the German floundered on the ropes.
Cinkara is trying to tie Opeteia up and Opetaia is landing shots as a result.
There may have been a head clash there as Cinkara pushed off the ropes – is there a mark on Opetaia’s left eye? Not sure.
Cinkara lands a cuffing shot to the cheek of Opetaia, who goes a tad low in response.
BIG SHOT FROM OPETAIA! Cinkara is hanging on a bit but his power is such a threat that Opetaia is being a bit wary of really exposing himself to land a power punch of his own.
Looks like it
This might be the test Jai needs?
– Geoff
Cinkara said he had power and we should have listened.
That was such a strong shot in the second – astonishing.
I still feel Jai has the advantage but he needs to be aware of those shots.
Opetaia vs Cinkara, Round 3
Incredibly atmosphere as the volume rises enormously.
Cinkara looks for that money shot again but misses and nearly falls over.
Opetaia lands solidly to his jaw instead – good response.
Cinkara trips and is on the deck – but it’s no knockdown.
Opetaia jabs to the belly.
THEN LANDS A THUNDROUS RIGHT TO THE HEAD OF CINKARA!
Brilliant shot – the German handles it well.
Another powerful shot from Opetaia lands.
AND ANOTHER! The crowd liked that one.
Opetaia is bringing power down the middle and Cinkara is eating them all up.
Jab from Opetaia as Cinkara is back on the ropes.
They clinch. Each of these shots is like a mountain colliding with a truck – earth shuddering – everyone in the crowd can feel the power and the reverberations of these blows. Incredible.
Opetaia vs Cinkara, Round 2
Opetaia definitely had the better of that first round.
Can he build on it here?
Opetaia looks unphased. Both men are bouncing around still.
Groans around the arena as both men miss with flashing fists.
Cinkara shows some solid hand speed but misses with his shot, as does Opetaia as he throws a wild overhand right when Cinkara on the ropes.
Solid shot to the body that jars Cinkara.
Now Opetaia goes up top and he’s chasing Cinkara around the ring! Good shot from Opetaia.
Right from Opetaia lands after a left fell short, good inventiveness.
Solid left from Opetaia just forces Cinkara back.
MASSIVE SHOT FROM CINKARA! THAT ROCKED OPETAIA!
HE HAS THE POWER!
My goodness! The crowd rise to rouse Opetaia but after being initially stunned it seems he’s OK. Solid shot though, my word.
That could have felled a horse – an almighty right down the pipe.
Opetaia vs Cinkara, Round 1
Opetaia is prowling around his corner.
Cinkara is more steady, swaying from one side to the other on his feet.
Incredible atmosphere as the fighters are introduced.
Chris Flores (USA) is the referee.
Here we go.
Both men bounce, fending at each other’s gloves.
They clinch but the referee lets the much out of it.
Opetaia lands a jab and then works the body.
Cinkara goes to the body too.
Tentative stuff early.
Opetaia gets a bit more agitated and then lands to the body – good shot, more twitchy from Opetaia.
A good shot to the body follows that the crowd really enjoyed.
Good body shot from Opetaia.
Good left from Opetaia to the chin of Cinkara, which holds up nicely.
Opetaia flashes a left that just misses the chin of the Germany-born Turkish fighter.
A tense first round.
Opetaia vs Cinkara: Tale of the Tape
Jai Opetaia (AUS)
Record: 28-0 (22 KOs)
Age: 30
Height: 188cm
Reach: 192cm
Weight: 90.19kg
Hüseyin Cinkara (GER)
Record: 23-0 (19 KOs)
Age: 40
Height: 190cm
Reach: 192cm
Weight: 90.29kg
Jai Opetaia walks to the ring
Here we go, the sound ramps up again now as Jai Opetaia speaks out from the big screen.
“I am beating myself every day.
“I’m here to prove I am the best boxer in the world.
“This is my life.”
Those are the slogans that he says, with a montage of his greatest hits.
This is electrifying stuff.
Now the Samoan heritage music, far less militaristic than Cinkara’s.
Opetaia appears flanked by two Samoan warriors in traditional dress. Amazing.
He too is an incredible sight, Opetaia, the triumphant music adding the the atmosphere.
Hüseyin Cinkara walks to the ring
Here comes the challenger.
He is in full traditional Turkish battle dress, with an approach music that mixes the traditional music if his heritage and modern elements.
He looks an imposing figure in the ring – it’s quite the dramatic entrance and has had the desired impact with near silence in the arena from the Gold Coast crowd.
dan