Products You May Like
Briton Jack Massey has promised to bring the IBF cruiserweight title back home for his daughter as he prepares to face champion Jai Opetaia in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Massey, 31, has won six of his past seven fights, with his only defeat coming when he stepped up to heavyweight to face Joseph Parker.
He meets Opetaia in Riyadh, on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev’s undisputed light-heavyweight fight against Dmitry Bivol.
“It’s a massive opportunity,” Massey said.
“I’m doing this for my little girl and family. That’s the fire in my belly.
“I am coming home with that title. My little girl is seeing that title.”
Massey and Opetaia were sitting almost side-by-side during Thursday’s news conference and engaged in a tense stare-off, before sharing a handshake.
Opetaia, 29, beat Mairis Briedis to win the IBF belt in 2022 and has made three defences to extend his undefeated record to 25.
The Australian said he is not overlooking Massey but also vowed to “take the title home” for his daughter.
Massey, who was working on a scaffolding site two years ago, is undefeated at cruiserweight since losing against Richard Riakporhe for the vacant British title in 2019.
Beterbiev ‘has what I want’ – Bivol
Saturday’s main event features two undefeated fighters meeting in the first undisputed light-heavyweight contest since 2002, while it is the first time all four major world titles have been on the line in the four-belt era.
The WBO, WBC and IBF titles are held by Beterbiev, with Bivol defending his WBA strap.
Beterbiev is often a man of few words and he largely kept his thoughts to himself.
He stared at the table and off into the distance as Bivol spoke and when pushed for a final message, warned his opponent to “be ready”.
Bivol insisted he is “always ready” after pausing for a moment when the crowd chanted his name.
“Every time when I think of my opponent, I get excited. Artur is a great champion, but he has what I want – the belts,” Bivol added.
“When I look at his skills, I want to check my skills against this amazing fighter.”
‘Seek and destroy’
Frazer Clarke crossed the stage to shake hands with British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley as they gear up for a rematch.
The pair fought to a very entertaining draw in March and Clarke claimed he has gained “a lot of belief” from that encounter at London’s O2 Arena.
“This time the mission is to seek and destroy,” Clarke added.
“My desire and hunger to become British champion is higher than ever.”
Briton Raven Chapman received one of the loudest cheers of the night after stating that WBC featherweight champion Sky Nicolson is trying to “portray an aura of confidence”.
“I’m always this confident, I back myself and I know what I’m capable of,” replied Nicolson.
Chapman faces Nicolson in the first-ever women’s world title fight to be hosted in Saudi Arabia.
The most entertaining exchanges came between British light-heavyweight rivals Ben Whittaker and Liam Cameron.
Olympic silver medallist Whittaker, known for his showboating in the ring, said “it is a good job I can swim” after being told he was set to enter deep water.
Cameron, meanwhile, dubbed himself as the “Sheffield Beterbiev” as the pair shouted over each other from opposite ends of the table.
More boxing from the BBC
