Jai Opetaia has executed a ruthless first defence of his boxing world titles, brutalising hometown hope Jordan Thompson inside four rounds in London.
The Australian IBF and The Ring cruiserweight world champion landed a sweet left hook to the taller Thompson’s forehead in the first round to set the tone at Wembley Arena on Sunday morning (AEST).
All at sea, Thompson was saved by the bell again in the third round before he was knocked down again just 20 seconds in the fourth round.
“I told you. This is what I do … I’m born for it, live for it,” Opetaia said.
“I feel like this fight night was Jordan Thompson’s fight night.
“They made it about him, nothing to do with me. They put me in this small ring, thinking they’d cut me off, my good footwork.
“But that’s what happens.”
The Gold Coast-based Sydney talent had to wait 15 months for a chance to defend the belts he won in incredible fashion, breaking his jaw twice but still prevailing against Mairis Briedis in July last year.
This was all one-way traffic though, Opetaia now targeting more belts in fights on home soil after calling out WBO belt holder Chris Billam-Smith, who was ringside, after the win.
His dominance perhaps showed why contenders Richard Riakporhe and Mateusz Masternak’s camps both pulled out of negotiations at the 11th hour.
“All the operations are upgrades,” he said in reference to facial and shoulder surgery since his last fight.
“I’ve got this fight out of the way, looking forward, so who’s next?”