All roads lead to Jai Opetaia. That is the stern warning from the ‘King of the Cruiserweights’ himself as he prepares to remind the world this Saturday that he is the top dog in the division despite having to give up his IBF World Title.

The Australian is just six days away from his ‘Day of Reckoning’ with Ellis Zorro in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – live worldwide on DAZN PPV.

But the No.1 ranked fighter and reigning Ring Magazine World Champion will be without the IBF crown having been forced to vacate the belt earlier today.

With mandatory rival Mairis Briedis currently injured, a special appeal was requested by Matchroom, Tasman Fighters, Queensberry and Wasserman Boxing to the IBF to allow Opetaia to defend his crown against Britain’s Zorro this weekend.

But with the IBF denying Opetaia that opportunity, the Aussie has reluctantly relinquished his championship. Fired up, Opetaia now vows to do his talking in the ring and showing why he is rated as the best Cruiserweight on the planet.

“I’m looking forward to putting on a good show,” Opetaia told Matchroom Boxing.

“I cannot wait to get in the ring. It’s all outside noise and it’s also just fuel on the fire. It makes me want to perform even better. The thing is all roads lead to me. I am the Ring magazine World Champion, the number one in the division. I am the king of the Cruiserweights.

“We’ve definitely earned our spot on this card, which is the biggest in boxing history. I can’t lie, it’s been a rough journey. It’s been a rollercoaster to get to where we are, but we are here. 

“So, I feel like I’m the motivation to all my rivals. I’m working hard. I’m doing what I’ve got to. I’m focused on my own journey, and I’m not worried about them. 

“I’m locked in on Ellis Zorro and I’m expecting a solid version of him. He’s going to have to pick it up when he faces me. So, I’m pumped. I’m ready. I’ve earned my spot here – it didn’t happen by accident. And we just go out and we do what we do.

“We’re just getting started on this journey. We’ve got so much more to achieve in this in this game and we’re flying the Australian and Samoan flags very proudly. I’m honoured to be part of this card and a part of boxing history.”

The ‘Day of Reckoning’ comes after the ‘Battle of the Baddest’, which was held on October 28 during the opening of Riyadh Season 2023, in which Tyson Fury defeated Francis Ngannou.

Tickets for events and experiences in the zone can be reserved through the WeBook application by accessing the following link:
http://onelink.to/wbkapp

OFFICIAL WEIGHTS
The WBO European Cruiserweight Championship 10 x 3 Minute Rounds
Ellis Zorro 199lbs 3oz
Luca D’Ortenzi 200lbs

The vacant Commonwealth Silver Featherweight Championship 10 x 3 Minute Rounds
Masood Abdullah 125lbs 3oz
Marc Leach 124lbs 9oz

8 x 3 Minute Rounds International Light-Heavyweight Contest
Karol Itauma 180lbs 9oz
Dmytro Fedas 179lbs 7oz

8 x 3 Minute Rounds Super-Welterweight Contest
Joshua Frankham 154lbs 3oz
George Davey 153lbs 8oz

8 x 3 Minute Rounds International Super-Welterweight Contest
Carl Fail 157lbs 2oz
Angel Emilov 159lbs 9oz

8 X 3 Minutes Rounds International Super-Bantamweight Contest
Chris Bourke 120lbs 9oz
Adam Mbega 122lbs 2oz

4 X 3 Minute Rounds International Middleweight Contest
Sam King 161lbs 1oz
Dwain Grant 158lbs 6oz

ELLIS ZORRO AND Willy Hutchinson will make first defences of their newly won title belts at London’s York Hall on Friday 15 September, live on TNT Sports.

Cruiserweight Zorro (16-0, 7 KOs) took ownership of the WBO European championship in May, applying a spectacular finish following a gruelling battle with former British light heavyweight champion Hosea Burton.

Light heavyweight Hutchinson (16-1, 12) parted Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna from his WBC International title in a brutal fashion, knocking down the Argentinean twice ahead of a fourth-round stoppage.

A third title fight of a Bethnal Green night will see undefeated featherweight Masood Abdulah (8-0, 5) fight for the vacant Commonwealth Silver championship, which will represent a maiden title shot for the Islington man.

Hutchinson, approaching 25, is excited to launch his title reign and make gains in the WBC world rankings.

“Oh, I am looking forward to it, of course I am,” said the former World Amateur Champion. “Obviously, with being a champion this time, it is good to defend and start pushing on. It is not so much different now, but it is all new to me, it is another experience in my life, and I am sure there will be plenty more of them.

“I can start getting up those rankings now and start chasing, start chasing the big names. That is the plan, I am 25 in a couple of days, and it is time to start pushing on now, isn’t it? It is time to start smashing these fellas.

“My last fight was all well and good, but you still haven’t seen the best of me, that is the truth. The best is yet to come. It was a step forward in my career and, step by step, I am getting better and better. In this next one I am going to get even better.”

Zorro, 30, for his part, is clearly delighted that his cruiserweight career is now sharply gathering momentum following his winning exploits in the short-form Boxxer tournament in mid-2022.

“I think this is the quickest turn-around I’ve had since I was fighting on small hall shows,” he reflected. “I think that is what I was looking forward to with winning a title and then defending it.

“I’ve gone from, trying to get on a card and sitting around after winning the Boxxer, to headlining and winning a title and now headlining again to defend it. I am over the moon, to be honest with you, I am happy it is at York Hall again and my last two have been good fights for the fans.

“I am looking forward to it, I am not being over-confident, I am just over the moon to be this active because I haven’t been since I was fighting journeymen. I am just really happy.”

Also featuring on the card will be Chatham light heavyweight Karol Itauma (10-1, 7), Northampton super welterweight Carl Fail (9-0, 3) and Streatham bantamweight Chris Bourke (12-1, 7) fighting over eight rounds.

Reading super welterweight Joshua Frankham (8-0, 2) and Maidstone welterweight Sean Noakes (5-0, 3) will be fighting over six, with Thamesmead cruiserweight Natty Ngwenya (2-0) and debut making middleweight Sam King from Luton in four-round fights.

Promoter Frank Warren added: “Once again this tremendous stage offers the opportunity for new champions to top up their experience at a higher level and for prospects to turn themselves into potential contenders.

“It is such a valuable platform for our young fighters to develop and it is delivering the results we intended, with both Ellis Zorro and Willy Hutchinson showing such promising signs of what is to come from them in years to come.

“Ellis and Willy were so impressive against strong opposition last time out and they made statements in the ring that got people talking and excited about future fights.

“At York Hall this time there is also a first title opportunity for the undefeated Masood Abdulah and I am also looking forward to seeing the progress made by the rest of the young fighters on the card who are closing in on title contention themselves.”

Tickets for the York Hall show on Friday 15 September are on sale now available from: ticketmaster.co.uk.

IN A CRUISERWEIGHT CRACKER, the undefeated Ellis Zorro will fight for the vacant WBO European title against former British champion Hosea Burton at York Hall on Friday May 12, live on BT Sport from 7:30pm.

Tickets for the Zorro vs Burton at York Hall on Friday, 12 May are on sale now available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

Also, at light heavyweight, Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna returns to London to defend the WBC International title he won in January when he takes on Willy Hutchinson, who is bidding for a maiden title at the weight

Light heavyweight Karol Itauma (9-1, 7 KOs) will look to get back to winning ways in eight-round action following his Wembley defeat to Maderna, with Southampton snapper Ryan Garner (12-0, 6) returning to the ring over six rounds, along with formidable Polish cruiserweight Michal Soczynski (5-0, 2) and welterweight prospects Sean Noakes (4-0, 2) and George Davey (6-0-1, 1).

“I think Ellis Zorro going up against Hosea Burton is a terrific fight and one that can catapult Ellis right into the thick of the cruiserweight mix if he is successful,” said promoter Frank Warren. “It is a real 50-50 because Hosea is a rejuvenated force now he has stepped up from light heavyweight.

“I am also looking forward to seeing Willy Hutchinson come of age at light heavyweight  and make good on his obvious potential against a quality opponent who we know all about. The same goes for Ryan Garner, who is back in the ring after missing out for much of last year through no fault of his own. Ryan remains a top quality operator and just needs to crack on now and get in some big fights.”

Boxxer cruiserweight tournament winner Zorro (15-0, 6) returned to traditional action with a hard-fought points triumph over Dec Spelman in September of last year and now bids for a maiden professional title belt.

Burton (28-3, 12) jumped up to cruiserweight after being defeated by Dan Azeez in a British title challenge in November 2021. The 34-year-old became British champion in 2016 via a stoppage of Miles Shinkwin and previously challenged for the WBO European title.

Hutchinson (15-1, 11) has clocked up two impressive stoppage victories since returning to light heavyweight after making an unsuccessful tilt at the British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles against Lennox Clarke in 2021.

The experienced Maderna (29-10, 19) stopped Itauma via a big right at Wembley Arena to win the vacant WBC International belt, with the Argentinean having previously come up against the likes of Artur Beterbiev, Jose Uzcategui and Fedor Chudinov.

Tickets for the York Hall cracker on Friday, 12 May are on sale now available from ticketmaster.co.uk.

ELLIS ZORRO VIEWS his forthcoming fight with Dec Spelman as the perfect measure of his cruiserweight credentials at a higher level.

Boxxer tournament winner Zorro makes his Queensberry debut against Spelman at York Hall on September 16.

Even though Spelman has recently come up from light heavyweight, the Scunthorpe man possesses a strong pedigree and his will be seeking to further his own career at cruiser on the night, rather than provide a stepping stone for a championship hopeful.

For his part, Zorro does believe Spelman is his next step and that the quality of opponent vindicates his move to team up with Frank Warren following his competition success in Manchester that took him to 14-0 as a professional.

“This is the direction I want to go in,” said the 29-year-old. “I was pleased that Martin (trainer and manager, Bowers) and Frank have decided to put me in with such an opponent, rather than kind of give me an easy welcoming fight.

“After this one I will look to push on to titles asap, that is where I am going.

“You could have a tough international opponent and not get any credit for winning, but with this one I will get the credit. We know who he has fought, we know what he has done, how he has conducted himself in those fights, so I think it will be a test for me and a good fight.”

Zorro is not reading too much into Spelman’s jump in weight class, particularly since he has not fought at 175lbs since his Commonwealth title encounter with Lyndon Arthur in July 2020. Spelman subsequently took on Anthony Yarde weighing 180lbs before two fights nudging 200lbs.

“I did see an interview with him after the Arthur fight where he said he was drained at the weight. He is not going to be drained now, but it is a big jump up, although I am not a massive cruiserweight. I don’t know how tall he is, maybe 5ft 10″, while I am 6ft 1”.

“This will be his second or third fight at the weight now, so we will see. Other than his style, being a pressure fighter coming forward, I am not going to take too much from his fights at light heavyweight.

“He has fought (Shakan) Pitters and had the thing with Yarde and Arthur. He is a good fighter and I think he will come and try and push me back, put pressure on me, but I am ready for it.

“I am looking forward to it and stylistically it will be a good fight. Dec will try and drag me into ‘deep waters’ and he will know he has not got much of a chance if he tries to stand on the outside and box with me.

“So I think he will push the pace, try and stay on my chest, so the fans will be in for a good fight – which is what I need, with being on TV and on a Frank Warren show. I need to be in an engaging fight.”

Tickets for Bentley vs Morrison at York Hall on Friday, 16 September are on sale now, available exclusively from ticketmaster.co.uk.

THE 14-0 CRUISERWEIGHT star and Boxxer Tournament winner Ellis Zorro has signed a promotional agreement with Frank Warren and Queensberry.

The 29-year-old is trained and managed by Martin Bowers from the Peacock Gym in Epping alongside now promotional teammates Denzel Bentley, Chris Bourke and Louie Lynn.

A jeweller by trade, Zorro entered the tournament staged in May up in Manchester and cruised to success, beating James Farrell, Jamie Smith and Ricky Reeves via unanimous decisions.

He now becomes the most experienced member of the Queensberry cruiserweights, which includes Arnold Obodai, Aloys Junior and Natty Ngwenya.

Zorro believes his tournament triumph paved the way for a union with the Hall of Fame promoter.

“That is the benefit of these tournaments,” Zorro considered. “Sky were hosting it but, going forward, Frank is going to be taking care of my career anyway. It is all good.

“I went in to see Frank and he congratulated me on my performance in the tournament and offered me a contract going forward. Frank will be handling my career and I am over the moon with that.

“When I came here to the Peacock at 9-0 it was what I wanted to happen kind of straight away but obviously you’ve got to, not so much prove yourself to Frank, but now I have got something he can sell. I will always be the Boxxer tournament winner, I am now 14-0, No.10 on Boxrec and I will be fighting for international titles moving forward.

“I believe I have got a WBC Silver title shot in September, so it is all good.”

The punching jeweller Zorro was fittingly fitted out in a golden robe after winning the final and it was a competition he was convinced all along he would emerge victorious.

“I was super, super confident. I knew that with the sparring I had been getting with the likes of Dan Azeez who, even though he is a light heavyweight, is really, really strong. I had Craig Richards, I had Denzel for his experience, even though he is a bit lighter. Then I had sparring against heavyweights, so I just feel I ticked every box.

“At the time I was 11-0 and I didn’t have a contract with anybody. I wasn’t stagnant, but I’d just had two fights with Martin since being at the Peacock and one of them was a rematch against Ossie Jervier.

“I was kind of struggling with some direction but now, in the space of one weekend, it accelerated everything for me.

“It feels like it was meant to be and, as Martin is always saying, everybody gets a chance in boxing, you just have to be patient and be ready. When the call came, we were ready.”

Frank Warren added on his cruiserweight recruit: “I am delighted to sign Ellis and he was clearly the class act of the tournament. We have known about him for some time now through our strong relationship with Martin and this is perfect timing, with Ellis having increased his stock with three strong performances.

“There won’t be any delays now, we will put Ellis straight into title contention and really get his career firing on all cylinders.”