Opetaia beats Squeo to retain IBF cruiserweight title

Jai Opetaia produced a fifth-round stoppage to hit Claudio Squeo and clasp his IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight world titles.

The Australian dominated nan bout connected nan Gold Coast and landed a patient uppercut successful nan 3rd information earlier connecting pinch immoderate damaging combinations.

Opetaia, 29, past floored Italian Squeo successful nan 4th information pinch a punishing changeable to nan body.

Victory was delivered successful nan adjacent information aft a fierce correct hook to nan jaw forced Squeo to hunch complete and return a knee arsenic nan location favourite extended his unbeaten tally to 28 fights.

Following nan bout, Opetaia erstwhile again voiced his desire for a unification bout pinch Mexico's WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez.

"We did what we had to do," said Opetaia.

"I'm chasing this unification conflict and it's frustrating.

"Gilberto Ramirez - adjacent fight, let's get it on. I'm chasing nan belts. The conflict is easy to beryllium made. Let's do it."

Meanwhile, Japan's Junto Nakatani overcame compatriot Ryosuke Nishida, who retired pinch an oculus wounded successful Tokyo, to adhd nan IBF bantamweight title to his WBC belt.

Nakatani remains nan number 1 combatant successful nan section aft firing respective punches towards nan correct oculus of Nishida, which prompted an inspection from nan ringside expert aft nan sixth round.

Victory for nan three-weight world champion extends his unbeaten grounds to 31 wins, including 24 knockouts.

Another Japanese rival, Naoya Inoue, was watching connected from nan stands and could beryllium successful statement for a highly anticipated gathering pinch nan 27-year-old adjacent year.

A bout betwixt Nakatani and nan unbeaten Inoue, who has 27 knockouts successful 30 wins, would beryllium nan biggest conflict successful Japanese boxing history.