Jack Massey’s passion is unearthing lost treasure, and he hopes to make history this Saturday when he takes on Jai Opetaia for the IBF cruiserweight title. Finding treasure is one of British cruiserweight Jack Massey’s favorite things to do, and this weekend in Riyadh, he will undoubtedly be thinking about gold.
The unbeaten Australian Jai Opetaia will take on the defending European and Commonwealth champion, Massey, who won the titles by defeating Isaac Chamberlain at Selhurst Park in June. Massey is vying for the IBF cruiserweight title.
Massey sees a vulnerability in Opetaia, who improved his professional record to 25-0 in May by defeating Mairis Briedis twice, the more seasoned Latvian having triumphed over him in 2022.
With “crazy eyes” and a reputation as the finest cruiserweight in the division, Breidis, 39, came out on top in the spring competition, which has given Massey confidence going into their match.
“Briedis has given him his toughest fight, One Smack” continued. “But when I sparred with Briedis in Latvia a few years ago, he was carrying a few injuries and considering retirement’.
“I believe Briedis is past his prime, but we are still keeping an eye on him because of his strong performance in the latter stages. I always come in strong, and I believe that’s where I’ll take advantage of [Opetaia].
“He does have a tendency to lose steam late in fights. He gets going quickly, which could be a liability because it wears him out a little. That is why he allowed Briedis to return. Many people are misinterpreting me and believing that I am just another British visitor to the slaughterhouse, but this is not the case.
He seems to take every fight seriously, and I know for a fact that he is taking me seriously. He is aware that I am no mug and that my goal is to succeed rather than just get paid.” After defeating Chamberlain a few months earlier and enduring the entire ten rounds with Joseph Parker in early 2023, Massey is confident he can crush Opetaia’s dreams of uniting the division.
“I admire him for stepping up to the plate. He would have preferred to bring the division together, but like me, he will take on anybody if he can’t get the matchups he wants. He is one of those men that like physical combat. You can take that away from me because I came in with a powerful puncher like Parker and stayed in until the very end, giving it my all I am coming to destroy his objectives to secure that world title.”
