The two most popular heavyweights of the past decade, for example, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, both happen to be English, are a year apart in age and held world titles at the same time, yet they\u2019ve never met the ring.<\/p>\n
A fight between the pair would have sold Wembley Stadium out multiple times over.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s countless similar cases throughout the sport\u2019s recent history.<\/p>\n
Closer to home, Jai Opetaia has found himself frustrated with the indirect route he\u2019s been forced to take in an effort to prove he\u2019s the world\u2019s number one 200-pounder.<\/p>\n
More than three years ago, the Australian defeated Mairis Briedis<\/a>, the best cruiserweight on the planet at the time, to win the IBF and The Ring titles.<\/p>\n Since that night on the Gold Coast, Opetaia has unsuccessfully petitioned for a shot at the division\u2019s other champions, hoping to one day call himself undisputed.<\/p>\n Instead, he\u2019s rematched and beaten Briedis, knocked out three Englishmen, a Kiwi and an Italian, most of whom had little business being in the ring with the destructive southpaw.<\/p>\n And, while a long-awaited meeting with Gilberto \u201cZurdo\u201d Ramirez, who currently holds the division\u2019s WBA and WBO titles, at least appears to be getting closer, the Mexican is now sidelined following shoulder surgery.<\/p>\n Regardless, unless Ramirez lowers his asking price, or Turki Alalshikh opens the considerable coffers at his disposal, it may never happen.<\/p>\n Same goes for the WBC cruiserweight champion, Badou Jack.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard Badou Jack wants US$10 million to fight Jai Opetaia,\u201d Mick Francis of Tasman Fighters, Opetaia\u2019s promoter, told Sporting News.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s 41, doesn\u2019t sell a ticket and the fight wouldn\u2019t go one round.<\/p>\n \u201cZurdo Ramirez is asking for US$8 million when he isn’t a pay-per-view fighter.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they were serious about fighting Jai Opetaia, they wouldn\u2019t be hiding behind those telephone numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n Even before either of those fights can be made, Opetaia has to face the mandatory challenger to his IBF title, the 40-year-old Huseyin Cinkara – a clash which shapes as yet another significant mismatch in the Aussie\u2019s favour.<\/p>\n With plans to move up and challenge for heavyweight titles, Opetaia, 30, doesn\u2019t necessarily have the time to waste waiting around for fights which mightn\u2019t come.<\/p>\n Next month, Terence Crawford will make the massive jump up to super middleweight to take on Canelo Alvarez<\/a>.<\/p>\n The American is looking to win a world title in a fifth weight class, and become undisputed in a third.<\/p>\n After \u201cBud\u201d stopped Jeff Horn to collect the WBO welterweight title in 2018, he found himself in a similar predicament to Opetaia\u2019s present situation.<\/p>\n Crawford, then signed to Top Rank, defended the WBO strap six times, failing to secure a fight with the other big names at welterweight at the time, most of whom were affiliated with PBC.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t until 2023 that Crawford got the chance to unify the division by facing, and ultimately knocking out, Errol Spence<\/a>.<\/p>\n And then Alalshikh came along.<\/p>\n With the Saudi government official in his corner, Crawford is no longer on the \u201cwrong side of the street\u201d and gets a shot at a legacy-defining bout with Canelo, as well as an eight-figure payday.<\/p>\n Is there a lesson in this for Opetaia?<\/p>\n Maybe he should have chosen a sport where the physical stakes are lower.<\/p>\n \u201cJai’s problem is he retires both these guys,\u201d Francis said.<\/p>\n \u201cZurdo can stay where he is, defend his titles a few times in America and leave a legacy.<\/p>\n \u201cOr face Jai Opetaia, and potentially never be the same fighter he was.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gold Coast-based knockout artist can already count himself among Alalshikh\u2019s favourites, but even the Saudis aren\u2019t going to stump up the kind of money Ramirez and Jack are asking for.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n