What time is Jai Opetaia's fight and how can I watch it on DAZN: Live blog, results, highlights, knockout, Gilberto Ramirez
Opetaia defended his world title in devastating fashion, hammering the overmatched Squeo with a big left hand from the opening minute.
The finish came with a vicious right hook to Squeo's jaw, with Opetaia immediately saying he heard it crack when he hit it.
The win sees Opetaia move a step closer to a cruiserweight unification bout against Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez.
Ramirez defends his WBO and WBA titles against Yuniel Dorticos in seven weeks in Anaheim on the undercard to Jake Paul's fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Opetaia will be ringside and plans on calling the Mexican out.
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Jai Opetaia of Australia reacts after victory in his IBF Cruiserweight Title bout against Claudio Squeo of Italy at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 08, 2025 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by)
'Next fight, Zurdo Ramirez. Let's get it on. I'm chasing that belt, let's go,' Opetaia said.
'I'm not here to bad mouth him or beat him down. But the fight is easy to be made. We are ready. Whenever you call, we are ready.
'I believe I'm the best boxer in the cruiserweight division. Let's make the fight happen. Anyone who thinks they're the best, they're not the best until they beat me.
'Anywhere, anytime, just pick up the phone.'
Opetaia's promoter, Mick Francis called on Ramirez to stop running and take the fight.
'The plan is to go over there and call him out. He's been dodging for a long time,' Francis said.
'Jai's been calling for this fight for a long time.
'He's 28, he's done the work, let's make it happen.
'Jai's respectful, but we need to call him out and make him fight Jai. He's ducking and dodging. The only way is to get on a plane, get over there and call him out.'
It was all one way traffic on the Gold Coast, but there was confusion in the fourth round when Opetaia landed a massive uppercut to the body, forcing Squeo to take a knee.
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 08: Jai Opetaia of Australia punches Claudio Squeo of Italy during their IBF Cruiserweight Title bout at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 08, 2025 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by)
Referee Robert Hoyle didn't rule it a knockdown though, and appeared to call it a low blow.
Opetaia argued, before Hoyle said the defending champion was illegally holding Squeo behind the head while punching him to the body.
'It's understandable, I was holding him,' Opetaia told Code Sports. 'It was illegal, that's why I wasn't blowing up or anything.
'But I thought he was saying low blow at the start. But he told me I was holding him.'
Opetaia ended it in convincing fashion a round later though, clubbing a powerful right hook to Squeo's jaw.
The tough challenger dropped to a knee and gestured to his jaw while being counted out.
'I felt it, and I heard it click when it landed,' Opetaia said. 'I heard the punch when it hit his jaw and I thought, 'This poor bastard'.
'I've been there before. I saw his jaw, and when I looked at it, it had a little bump.'
It was the same venue and the same ring Opetaia's own jaw was shattered when he first won the IBF world title against Mairis Breidis in 2022.
'I didn't go down though,' Opetaia told Code Sports.
In the co-main event, Conor Wallace fought through a busted eardrum to earn a hard-fought unanimous decision win over tough Frenchman Dylan Colin.
One of the brightest prospects in Aussie boxing, Max McIntyre claimed another victim, knocking out New Zealander Ricaia Warren.
Warren (5-1) was a game opponent, and landed well early on.
But once McIntyre found his range, it was all one-way traffic.
Two left hands signalled the beginning of the end for Warren. A powerful overhand right jolted the Kiwi's head back, forcing referee Paul 'The Tornado' Tapley to call it off.
'I got into my flow, as soon as I got into my gears, no one can stop me,' McIntyre said.
'I'm here for world titles. I want to go down as one of the greatest of all time.
'He was a tough opponent. I hit him with some right hands that other guys have gone down with.'
Originally published as Jai Opetaia v Claudio Squeo: Jai Opetaia batters Claudio Squeo, calls out Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
34 minutes ago
- News.com.au
AFL Round 17 North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs: Scores, news and analysis from Kanagroos' centenary game
North Melbourne young gun Harry Sheezel believes the presence of legends including dual premiership captain Wayne Carey at the club's Centenary celebrations on Thursday night can boost the current-day Kangaroos in their quest to upset the Western Bulldogs. Sheezel met up with Carey this week as he presented the 1996 and 1999 premiership captain's six-year-old son Carter with a signed North Melbourne jumper. Sheezel is Carter's favourite player. Carey, who is considered the club's greatest player, and his son are set to be a part of a special on-field celebration of the Kangaroos' 100 years as part of the VFL-AFL competition before the clash with the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium. Club legends and key figures from North Melbourne's history will be honoured during the night, including members from the club's five premiership-winning teams (1975, 1977, 1996, 1999 and the 2024 AFLW side). 'There is a real buzz around the club at the moment,' Sheezel told the Herald Sun. 'It was great to see 'the Duck' (Carey) and his son Carter, who is a keen Kangas fan. 'He (Carey) goes to the same osteo as me and I've run into him a few times out the front. 'It's pretty cool. 'The Duck' has mentioned to me a few times (how Sheezel is Carter's favourite player). Little Carter had about eight footy cards for me to sign and I presented him with a No.3 jumper as well.' Fans are encouraged to arrive early on and be seated by 6.45pm on Thursday night for the pre-game ceremony, which will include the Kangaroos 300-plus game players Brent Harvey, Todd Goldstein, Drew Petrie, Glenn Archer, Adam Simpson and Wayne Schimmelbusch, as well as Brownlow medallists Malcolm Blight, Keith Greig, Noel Teasdale and Ross Glendinning. All members have access to the club's Centenary game, with access consistent with all other Marvel Stadium home games. General public tickets are available at Ticketmaster. Sheezel said the 2025 side desperately wanted to make amends for last week's thrashing at the hands of Hawthorn with the aim of helping drive the club bounce up the ladder again. 'The club has done a great job of making sure the young draftees know the history of our club. We've won four flags and we are right across that,' he said. 'We know the challenges the club has been through across the generations and we know how the fans have always stayed loyal. 'You feel that every day and that's why everyone wants to stick around this great club and take it back to where it belongs.' North Melbourne's last premiership coach Denis Pagan will give the current side a pre-game rev-up after being asked to do so by current coach Alastair Clarkson. 'I'm looking forward to the rev up, I've heard Denis has made a few of them,' Sheezel said. 'This is a great opportunity on the big stage and hopefully we can feed off the energy of the fans and the past players. 'I have no doubt we will bring that pressure and give it a good crack against the Dogs.' Round 17, vs Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium, 7.30pm
News.com.au
34 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Rosehill Turf Talk: Key gear change for Mitch Cohen's best bet on Saturday as Shayne O'Cass takes swing at $71 pop
Form experts Mitch Cohen and Shayne O'Cass debate all the key chances at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, including a recently-gelded Godolphin sprinter and a Kris Lees runner that will go around at a massive price. â– â– â– â– â– Shayno: Hello Mitchy. I can't help myself; can never walk past an honour roll. Past Winter Stakes winners that stood out – San Domenico, Nebo Road, All Our Mob. You can go first Mitchy, who will join that list after Saturday? Mitch: Word is you're on the honour roll at a certain Thai restaurant in Haymarket, Shayno. As for the Winter Stakes, tipping it will be Welwal. He went enormous in that Civic Stakes behind Headley Grange and can go one better here. Wet track has to be a huge plus! Headley Grange adds the Listed Civic Stakes to his impressive record, and it's a Randwick treble to Jason Collett! 🙌 @PrideRacing @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 • Darby tons up as the winners keep rolling Shayno: I am pretty keen on Ruby Flyer. In fact I made him my best bet. I hope it stays nice and wet, heavy would do more without being a bog. He got some very good form at a mile, so 1400m fresh is right up the alley. Mitch: Good to see a two-year-old race back on the program after a couple of weeks without, albeit there nearly all three now Shayno. I reckon we are going to see a very serious horse step out again – that's Raging Force. Tipping he makes a statement and we see him making his presence felt in races like the Rosebud soon. Shayno: This is a 'before scratchings' statement; but wow, what a line-up. I should have learned by now that race experience is gold in two-year-old racing, more so on a heavy track but I fancy one of Waller's bluebloods to run well here, namely the Gerry Harvey-bred Portofino. Mitch: Could we see a Kerry Parker quinella in the Midway? Close Encounter and Equilibrist look to be great chances and they're both double figure odds. A great battle at @kemblaraces in the first, with Equilibrist fighting back to win! ðŸ'� @kjparkerracing | @LeeMagorrian — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 3, 2024 Shayno: I feel like you should be writing this one Mitchy. but I have a Kembla quinella for this Midway too. Kerry Parker's Equilibrist is so close to a win and so far as I see it, Noble Soldier 's 'best' beats them all. Mitch: All Kembla content welcome here mate. If we are looking elsewhere, I am really keen on Tarpaulin first run back a gelding. This is a horse that finished a length off the winner in Group 2 company last prep and finds himself in a Benchmark 78 here. The wet track should be no worries for him. Shayno: Whatever happens I hope it is no better than a Soft 7 by the last so my longshot of the day, Valimi, wins.
News.com.au
34 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Winter Stakes Day at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday
Form expert Shayne O'Cass analyses all 10 races for Winter Stakes Day at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! â– â– â– â– â– PORTOFINO (10) was a $750,000 Magic Millions purchase out of Gerry Harvey's draft. He's a son of I Am Invincible out of Harvey's own dual Listed winner Palazzo Pubblico. Portofino's two June trials, both seconds, were indicative of a quality colt in the making. That said, he's not alone there. MARCHON (9), the Wootton Bassett out of Ottawa Stakes placegetter Marchena, was just gliding along throughout when he won his June 20 Heat here. Race experience is gold. RAGING FORCE (10) is on a hat-trick. Bet: Portofino each-way â– â– â– â– â– RACE 2: Midway (Bm72) 1200m Funny how pedigrees work sometimes. Trapeze Artist was a known duffer yet here's one of his sons EQUILIBRIST (7) who ploughs through the wet. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that his fourth dam is Easy Date, the mother of one of the great muddies, Snippets. Whether it is heavy or Soft, Equilibrist is in good nick to win this. NOBLE SOLDIER (2) at his best is better than any and all of his rivals. He was good enough first-up in a much deeper race than this one. Bet: Equilibrist each-way, Noble Soldier to place â– â– â– â– â– RACE 3: TAB Highway Hcp (C3) 1200m LET'S GO BRANDON (10) was bought online in May 2024 for $1,250. He's won $37,125 in four starts and take it to the bank, it should be $13,000 more had he not thrown away a potential debut win at Canberra on Black Opal Day. Got his act together now with back-to-back wins and he's not done with yet. There is nothing like Highway form in a Highway. Enter EXIT FEE (6) who has won one and was runner-up to Lisztomania in another. SHOW 'EM HOWL (21) was huge in his Highway debut. Bet: Let's Go Brandon each-way, quinella 6, 10 â– â– â– â– â– RACE 4: The Agency Real Estate (Bm72) 1300m DIDDLE DUMPLING (4) had four runs as a two-year-old including back-to-back fifths in Manaal's Sweet Embrace and in the Percy Sykes (Lady Of Camelot was second). She opened her three-year-old season with a second to Aeliana. Bolted in at Wyong first-up. Well up to Saturday city grade. Riff Rocket's little half-sister CODETTA (1) is your rolled gold model of consistency. Paid the price for her barrier 7 of nine last time; hasn't fared any better this weekend either. Nakeeta Jane's son GATEKEEPER (7) could have a high ceiling. â– â– â– â– â– TARPAULIN (5) earned himself a bit of a boom when he won at the midweeks as a two-year-old. His best run since then, and so far, was his fourth in the Group 2 VRC Danehill Stakes in October 2024. Been off the scene a fair while but his trials indicate a happy and healthy horse ready to race. Loves the wet too. He'll have to be right up to the mark though to beat a very fit and in-form STORM THE RAMPARTS (1). That said, he is right up in the weights. SHALL BE (3) is fast, drawn well, has 2kg off and excels on wet ground. Bet: Tarpaulin to win â– â– â– â– â– QUEEN OF THE MILE (3) has by far turned in more good runs than bad ones. It is just plain to see that the race that best suit her is a Saturday city Benchmark 78. So much so that this Saturday will be her sixth '78' in-a-row subsequent to her noteworthy third in the Magic Millions 3&4YO at Wyong on Dec 28. Caveat is; needs it to dry out. USEAPIN (7) is well up to winning this. I made her my best bet last time but she was scratched and I wouldn't be shocked if she is absent again but got to mention her nonetheless. Bet: Useapin each-way â– â– â– â– â– RACE 7: Catanach's Jewellers (Bm78) 2000m GUZUMPED (18) is an emergency with no jockey but he could still get a run and would thus pick up one of the 'free jockeys'. I have been on the son of Dundeel both runs this preparation and they' haven't been at all bad. Third-up, loves the wet, loves 2000m. No one could have missed Ortensia's granddaughter GENTILESCHI (14) in that 1800m Benchmark 78 at Randwick on June 21. She looks ready for 2000m again and excels with the sting out. GOOD BANTER (15) won the Adrian Knox on a Heavy 9. Bet: Guzumped each-way or if scratched Good Banter each-way â– â– â– â– â– FLEETWOOD (4) is something of a rarity at Godolphin given he was bought not bred. They must have liked him as $160,000 is not an insignificant sum for an Encryption yearling. He has turned out to be another canny buy from the Royal Blue, having won five races and over $330,000 in a relatively short time. Best of all, he is unbeaten in both starts on Heavy. BUNKER HUT (3) has an inviting and enticing set of numbers right across the board except maybe that he hasn't won on Heavy and all his best form is on Good. Bet: Fleetwood to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 4, 2nd Leg 14 â– â– â– â– â– RUBY FLYER (14) is the sort of horse who could make his presence felt in The Big Dance if he got there and it was pouring cats and dogs on the day. My point there is that he is one of the best muddies racing all day on Saturday, he is a Randwick Mile winner and was placed in a Rowley Mile. This is 1400m of course but no less suitable for the Brad Widdup-trained gelding. WELWAL (2) was given the perfect ride by Tommy Berry when ripping into the margin behind Headley Grange last start. Getting oh so close. ASTERO (11) is always underrated. â– â– â– â– â– Beware of VALIMI (14). This is the French import with Kris Lees whose form back home includes three stakes race appearances including the 2023 French 2000 Guineas where ran fifth. What about his Australian runs? They weren't great that is true but it would seem to be that he can only go on Soft and Heavy tracks. And his trials were just fantastic too. Joe Pride-trained horses seem to hold to their form like no other trainer and for that reason alone, LITTLE COINTREAU (8) has to go in somewhere.
