The IBF world and The Ring lineal champion of the cruiserweight division, Australian fighter Jai Opetaia, has struck a co-promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing. The deal will see the cruiserweight champion fight on DAZN due to the partnership that has been established with Matchroom, and he joins a number of other Australian fighters who are on the same roster.

Jai Opetaia (22-0, 17 KOs) had a rapid rise to the top after defeating the Latvian former cruiserweight unified champion Mairis Briedis (28-2, 20 KOs) in July 2022 to become the IBF and The Ring champion. Opetaia’s victory over Briedis showcased his budding talent, which had emerged around a decade earlier in the amateur ranks when he won a World (Junior) Championship in 2011 and became the youngest Australian fighter to compete at the 2012 London Olympics.

He joins a group of talented Australians who have joined Matchroom/DAZN in the past couple of years, with Stevie Spark (16-3, 14 KO’s), Liam Paro (23-0, 14 KO’s), and Skye Nicolson (7-0, 0 KO’s) having already established themselves as potential future world champions during their time with Matchroom.

Jai Opetaia also becomes the first Australian to join the Matchroom roster as a world and lineal champion, and he is currently regarded as one of the best Australian fighters across all divisions. It should be noted that Opetaia has been inactive for over a year since winning the IBF title last year.

It is unknown what sort of impact the signing of Jai Opetaia to Matchroom will have on the supposed IBF’s mandate for him to face British contender Richard Riakporhe (16-0, 12 KOs). Riakporhe is best known for handing current WBO cruiserweight champion and fellow Brit Chris Billam-Smith (18-1, 12 KOs) his only loss in 2019.