IBF Cruiserweight Champion Jai Opetaia (22-0 17KOs) was ordered to negotiate with Richard Riakporhe (16-0 12KOs) in mandatory title fight. The pair of fighters will have 30 days to negotiate before a purse bid will be ordered. This turn of events came about when #1 IBF mandatory challenger Mateusz Masternak pulled out if negotiations before the deadline.
Opetaia 27, overcame two fractures in his jaw to defeated Mairis Briedis in July 2022 by unanimous decision. Since the fight, Opetaia underwent jaw and shoulder surgery along with a promotional dispute which kept him sideline for nearly a year.
Riakporhe 33, is 5-0 4KOs since returning from a two year layoff riddled by injury. Riakporhe has linked up BOXXER and is seeking to joint his stablemate Chris Billam-Smith as world champion. Billam-Smith defeated Lawrence Okolie last month the become WBO champion. Riakporhe gave Billam-Smith his first and only loss in 2019 by Split Decision.
Mmmhmmmm I'm a Riakporhe girl... Been waiting to see these two in particular fight. I like what I've seen from Opetaia too.
The most underrated division these titles change constantly change at cruiser weight,