Jai Opetaia’s move to join Zuffa Boxing earlier this year has unwittingly acted as a double-edged sword for the undefeated Australian superstar.
On one hand, Opetaia has been exposed to a lot more eyeballs – especially in the United States – rubbing shoulders with UFC champions, WWE legends and even Donald Trump as part of the Dana White-led and Saudi-backed promotion.
But on the flip side, the 31-year-old has been caught in the middle of political dramas that saw him stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title.
While this weekend’s showdown in Sin City has some difficult circumstances surrounding it for both competitors, it does continue an unlikely rise for Opetaia.
From growing up in a small NSW town to fighting in front of millions of people, Opetaia’s decision to sign with Zuffa has grown his global status.
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Jai Opetaia poses for a photo with Donald Trump. Instagram/@jaiopetaia