Jai Opetaia is not allowing one fighter to distract him from Claudio Squeo clash

After kicking off 2025 with a bang in his thrilling world cruiserweight title defence against David Nyika, IBF and Ring Magazine champion Jai Opetaia is looking to continue building towards an undisputed title bid on Sunday.

At the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, live on DAZN, Opetaia will face Claudio Squeo in a bout which he hopes will set up some major fights later this year.

One name which continues to follow Opetaia is unified champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez after he beat Chris Billam-Smith in November to become the WBA and WBO’s cruiserweight title holder.

Following his fourth-round stoppage win against Nyika in January, it looked like a showdown with Ramirez would be next, but as is often the case in boxing, very rarely do the contests which fans and fighters desire become a reality.

• Read next | Jai Opetaia relishes being the face of Australian boxing revolution

For now, Opetaia and Ramirez are going their separate ways with the latter taking on Yuniel Dorticos on the undercard of Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr later this month.

While Squeo is undefeated in 17 professional fights, many expect Opetaia to swiftly get past the Italian. However, these can sometimes be the clashes which can derail a major star’s quest for the bigger prizes and Opetaia is aware of the dangers which Squeo could pose at the opening bell.

“This is just who they have out in front of me, it’s who I have to beat,” Opetaia told DAZN News when discussing his next opponent in an exclusive interview.

“I’m not taking this fight lightly; we’ve been chasing unification fights but unfortunately, we didn’t get one.

“He’s the Italian champion, he looks strong, tough and he’s coming to win a world title. These are the dangerous fights.”

When you take a brief look at Squeo’s professional record, there is little to suggest that he will be a significant threat.

With just nine knockouts to his name, Squeo will be fighting outside of Italy for the first time in his career which will make him a significant underdog, but this does not stop Opetaia from expecting a “war” when the opening bell tolls in Broadbeach.

“I’m expecting a tough fight. These guys have nothing to lose and everything to gain,” Opetaia said.

“If they put it all on the line and put the pressure on, I’ve got to be ready for it and that’s what I prepare for.

“I prepare for someone who is going to try and take what’s mine, I’m expecting a war.”

It’s no secret that a unification fight with ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez must be next for Opetaia if gets past Squeo.

But whenever roadmaps for major fights are planned out, the boxing gods tend to scupper these plans and throw careers into disarray.

When it came to asking Opetaia whether a meeting with Ramriez was in the works before the Dorticos fight was confirmed, the Australian gave little away.

Instead, he insisted that a future clash against Ramirez will not prove to be a distraction due to the significant consequences a loss to Squeo will have when it comes to chasing the dream of becoming the undisputed champion at cruiserweight.

“Who knows. There are always little whispers in the background,” Opetaia responded when asked whether any discussions with ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and his team have taken place.

“All I know is that the fight is not locked in, I’m fighting someone else and that’s who I have to focus on.

“We take one fight at a time, until I win this fight, I can kiss all that stuff goodbye.”

Watch Usyk vs Dubois 2 exclusively live on DAZN PPV, Saturday, July 19.