Opetaia injury fallout as unification path clears
Murray Wenzel |
Huseyin Cinkara will remain hospitalised in Australia, recovering from a fractured vertebra and brain bleed caused by Jai Opetaia’s brutal world title stoppage.
The Australian IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion defended those belts against the German-born, Istanbul-based Cinkara on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Opetaia copped a clean right-hand from the previously unbeaten 40-year-old in the second round, before landing a sweet overhand left that sent Cinkara to the canvas in the eighth round.
There was serious concern as he lay motionless for several minutes and, after a gracious speech in defeat, Cinkara was hospitalised with a fractured C1 vertebra, a bone near the base of the skull.
He became the fourth consecutive Opetaia opponent to be hospitalised and, while he should not require surgery, is expected to remain in care until at least Wednesday.
Opetaia, 30, allayed serious injury concerns of his own to go fishing with friends on Sunday and will be prepared for a title unification bout early next year if one presents.
After more than three years of trying, that could be a reality if challenger Noel Mikaelian defeats WBC belt holder Badou Jack in their Los Angeles title fight this Saturday.
Armenian Mikaelian, who now shares a trainer with Australian Tim Tszyu, is the favourite to win their mandated rematch and has declared his eagerness to face Opetaia early next year, should he win.
Sweden’s Jack, who like Mikaelian trains in the US, is reportedly also willing to unify against Opetaia but would need at least three months to prepare once Ramadan ends in late March.
AAP
