Huseyin Cinkara will be hospitalized for at least two days after suffering a brain contusion, small brain bleed and fractured C1 vertebra during his eighth-round KO loss to Jai Opetaia, promoter Mick Francis of Tasman Fighters told The Ring on Sunday.
Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) retained his Ring Magazine cruiserweight championship with a strong contender for Knockout of the Year. In a tougher-than-expected battle Saturday on Australia’s Gold Coast, Opetaia delivered a left hand that rendered the underdog unconscious.
A cracked C1, also known as a Jefferson fracture, is at the base of the skull and can be life-threatening or cause paralysis.
Australia’s Opetaia, 30, emerged from the fight with a badly swollen right eye. Despite reports he had a fractured orbital, Opetaia didn’t endure any serious injuries, Francis said.
“Jai went fishing the day after the fight and dinner with his family and friends last night,” Francis said. “He is OK and the doctor said Jai has been cleared of any injuries and his cheek will heal over the next couple of weeks.”
The victory was Opetaia’s seventh successful defense of the Ring Magazine 200-pound championship he won in July 2022. After the win over Cinkara (his IBF mandatory defense) Opetaia , reiterated his desire to fight Zurdo Ramirez in a unification next year. Ramirez is lined up for a Jan. 16 tune-up bout vs. Robin Safar followed by a May 2 fight vs. David Benavidez. Opetaia could also face the winner of Saturday’s WBC cruiserweight title rematch between Badou Jack and Noel Mikaelian.
Cinkara (23-1, 19 KOs), a 40-year-old who fights out of Istanbul, was competing on the world-class level for the first time.
Mike Coppinger is The Ring’s senior insider. He co-hosts “Inside the Ring” every Monday with Max Kellerman on DAZN. Follow him on X/Instagram: @MikeCoppinger