After more than two years of fighting on the road, Jai Opetaia feels he has returned to Australia as a boxer who has fulfilled his "apprenticeship." The IBF cruiserweight champion initially earned his title in July 2022 and became just the second person to defeat Mairis Briedis after the legendary Oleksandr Usyk. He did this by remarkably overcoming a broken jaw. If his triumph that evening made him the world's top cruiserweight, then his four subsequent bouts have demonstrated that he is the best since Usyk, the top heavyweight, moved up in weight in 2018. The 29-year-old overcame Jordan Thompson, who was undefeated at the time, in four rounds in the UK during his first championship defense. He subsequently defeated Ellis Zorro in one in Saudi Arabia, defeated Briedis in a rematch, and most recently defeated Jack Massey inside six in October. A unification fight, first with Chris Billam-Smith and then with Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez in 2025, has thus gained more attention. It is believed that if Opetaia defeats David Nyika of New Zealand on Wednesday, the bout with Ramirez will take place outside of his homeland, most likely in Saudi Arabia, where the most profitable matches are increasingly held. Even though it may be tempting for onlookers to see Wednesday's fight as a keep-busy fight meant to raise Opetaia's profile among his fellow Australians before a more high-profile event, the champion, who was born in Sydney, New South Wales, but lives in Queensland's Gold Coast, is motivated by the chance to prove to his fellow citizens how much he has improved. Opetaia feels that Wednesday's fight at the Gold Coast Convention Centre allows him the opportunity to demonstrate himself in multiple ways, despite the fact that his first victory over Briedis is still the most noteworthy and remarkable of his career. At the news conference held in Surfer's Paradise on Monday, he stated, "It's been a long time coming." We are no longer unfamiliar with these major stages since we have traveled and fought internationally. I'm supposed to be here. Because of the work, we completed our apprenticeship. This division was created on my back. It's good. I'm prepared. I want to fight because I'm tired of these interviews. "I think all of my previous opponents have had that fire in their eyes when we've sat down and had face-to-face conversations and other interactions. All of them have thought that now is their chance to win the world championship. In the same way that I think this is another step on my path to greatness and to being the undisputed [champion]. But it's all for nothing if the task isn't completed on the eighth. I have to win, then. "This is his opportunity to win a global championship. We guys aim for this throughout our entire lives and careers. This is what we were meant to do, so I know he's prepared to go deep. These are the kinds of chances we were meant for. However, I'm prepared for it. I understand his perspective because I've been in his position, and I still feel hungry. So let's go wherever this goes. "I win it no matter how I do it. The knockout will occur if it does. I am aware that I can harm him. We're trying to fight wisely. We carry out our duties. I'm confident that I can defeat him. We fight intelligently. We engage in the game. When Huseyin Cinkara of Germany was sidelined by injury in December, Nyika took his position as Opetaia's opponent. Opetaia's organizers, Tasman Fighters and Matchroom, had offered the fight to Brandon Glanton of America since they didn't think he would accept such a big step up at such short notice. They sensed the allure of a world-title bout between an Australian and a New Zealander as soon as they learned of Nyika's will to take on Opetaia; theirs is an extension of what is considered to be one of the greatest sporting rivalries in the Gold Coast. The unbeaten 29-year-old Nyika has stopped nine of his ten opponents and took home a bronze medal from Tokyo 2020. "I believe in myself," he stated, adding that he had a size advantage over a heavyweight opponent. I possess the same amount of passion and grit as Jai. Naturally, Jai has experience that I do not, and in 48 hours, I will demonstrate to everyone my abilities and my potential to become the next cruiserweight world champion. "I believe I can defeat anyone." Put anyone in front of me, including the world's top heavyweights and cruiserweights. I will prove to everyone that I am capable of defeating anyone. For the past fifteen years, I have been preparing for this. Since I didn't set out to be anything less than the best, this is simply my chance to show the world why I am here. "Jai is aware that I have just as much bottle as him. I come to fight, and he knows it. I'm up for whatever he wants to do and whatever happens that evening. I think this will become an instant classic. I'm not giving anything away, but I think we're going to go over the gears regardless of what he wants to bring or what I bring that evening. It will be a dog battle, a chess match. However, now is the battle to be fought. Jai was not going to be threatened by Cinkara. I think I'm going to surpass myself and win the cruiserweight title in the future. "I never set out to be any less. Jai is the man to beat, in my opinion. I think he has every skill in the world, but he already has everything I want, so all I have to do is show everyone that I can accomplish the same and more.