Jai Opetaia retains his IBF cruiserweight title after brutal stoppage victory against Claudio Squeo

Jai Opetaia has retained his IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight world titles after defeating Claudio Squeo on Sunday.

The Australian placed his world titles on the line in a bid to secure a unification fight the division and after stopping his Italian opponent in the fifth round, appearing to break his opponent’s jaw, the 29-year-old looks to have set up a bout between himself and WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez.

He even called out Ramirez after the fight 

On Sunday, he showed his intent, utilising his size and patience to defeat Squeo.

He looked focused as he stalked his opponent around the ring in the opening two rounds, with Opetaia getting stuck into his 34-year-old opponent, in the second round.

The Aussie landed a brilliant uppercut on his opponent in the third before landing some brutal combinations to the Italian’s head and body.

Squeo began to tire and found himself on the canvas at the beginning of the fourth round following a blow to his lower abdomen.

And as the Gold Coast crowd bayed for the 6ft 2in Aussie southpaw to secure the win in the fifth round, Opetaia stepped into the middle of the ring and unloaded a belting right hand on the chin of Squeo, who could not recover.

The Italian hunkered down in the corner of the ring and took a moment to recover.

The referee began to count but the Italian could not muster a second comeback from the floor and the fight was waved over with Opetaia extending his unbeaten streak.

The Australian showed his class after the fight was waved, immediately sensing his opponent was in some trouble, before advancing over to Squeo, wrapping his arm around him and walking him back towards his corner. 

More to follow…