Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. 

Are Jai Opetaia and Justis Huni looking past this weekend’s opponents in order to fight each other?

As the two Australians get ready for separate fights this weekend, are they overlooking what’s in front of them?

Pete Carvill
Friday 06 June 2025 14:49 BST
Comments
Jai Opetaia after beating Jack Massey in October to stay undefeated
Jai Opetaia after beating Jack Massey in October to stay undefeated (Getty Images)

Australian fighters Jai Opetaia and Justis Huni have said they would like to fight each other in the future.

The pair, both of whom fight this weekend on DAZN, have said that they are already in discussions for a $20m all-Australian blockbuster match.

Both men share the same manager, Mick Francis, who told Fox Sports Australia, that a fight between the pair is already ‘guaranteed’.

Francis told Fox Sports Australia: “Jai and Justis will be fighting inside somewhere like Suncorp Stadium within three, four years. I guarantee it.”

Suncorp Stadium is in Brisbane, Queensland, and has a capacity of 52,500. It is where Manny Pacquiao travelled to fight Jeff Horn in 2017.

He added: “While both guys have tremendous respect for each other -- love each other and will help the other out as much as they can -- they also know that this event will be the biggest domestic fight Australia has ever seen. Two heavyweights from opposite sides of the border fighting for a world title, it will be huge. But before that happens, they both have to do their own things in their respective divisions.”

This weekend, Opetaia will face Italian Claudio Squeo in a cruiserweight title fight in Broadbeach, Australia. Huni, meanwhile, has travelled to England to face Fabio Wardley at the Portman Road stadium in Ipswich.

Despite the big-fight plans for Opetaia and Huni, the pair still have to win their respective matches.

Huni, 12-0 (7), is the b-side in his fight against Wardley. However, as DAZN wrote the other day, the 6’4” Australian comes off a glittering amateur career and even fought ten rounds in his debut for the Australian heavyweight title.

How to watch logo

Get 4 months free with ExpressVPN

Servers in 105 Countries
Superior Speeds
Works on all your devices

Try for free

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

How to watch logo

Get 4 months free with ExpressVPN

Servers in 105 Countries
Superior Speeds
Works on all your devices

Try for free

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Since then, Huni has fought steadily, picking up a host of regional titles. He has travelled, too, visiting Mexico and Riyadh in recent fights. His last fight was in the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, Australia – the same venue that Opetaia fights at this weekend.

Opetaia, on the other hand, will face Italian Claudio Squeo over twelve rounds in a defence of his IBF title.

The IBF cruiserweight champion won his title in 2024 with a decision over Mairis Briedis in Riyadh. He then returned to Riyadh to defend it against Jack Massey, before stopping David Nyika in four rounds at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.

Before any fight takes place between Huni and Opetaia, both need to win this weekend. Not only that, but Opetaia has made it clear that he hopes to unify the cruiserweight titles before any move northwards. To do that, he will need to fight – and defeat – Badou Jack and Gilberto Ramirez.

Watch the very best boxing with a DAZN subscription

DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more.

An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month.

A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.

For pricing in your country, more information and to sign up click here.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in