Jai Opetaia defended his IBF cruiserweight title for a fourth time in Broadbeach, Australia, as he knocked out Huseyin Cinkara in the eighth round of an entertaining clash on Saturday.
Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) was last out in June in the same venue, hammering Claudio Squeo to defeat in five rounds, while his mandatory challenger Cinkara (23-1, 19 KOs) returned in April after a year lay-off to halt Juan Diaz inside a round.
The champion started well, his footwork and speed on show in the opening, but under heavy fire, Cinkara produced a counter-right hand at the end of the second that rocked Opetaia, and certainly got his attention.
The home favourite recuperated, and the third saw him on the attack again, and his footwork was causing Cinkara more and more problems into the fourth.
The 30-year-old southpaw was guilty of trying to push for the finish, and he was paying the price for it, caught on more than one occasion in round five, and he reverted back to a measured approach for the next two rounds, breaking the visitor down and setting the German up for a conclusion.
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That conclusion came very swiftly in the eighth, with Opetaia uncorking a left hand that flattened the 40-year-old on impact, and he was prone for several minutes after the fight was waved off.
Opetaia called for a unification with unified WBO and WBA champion, Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, who is likely to face David Benavidez in May.
The Sydney man could be in line for a unification with WBC titlist, Badou Jack who defends his title against Norair Mikaeljan on December 13.
Wyllie-Fleming draw
Jake Wyllie and Paul Fleming couldn’t be separated after 10 rounds of super lightweight action, as they fought to a split decision draw.
Wyllie (18-1-2, 16 KOs) took a 100-90 verdict from one judge, while Fleming (28-2-1, 18 KOs) won 97-93 on a second card. The third judge ruled the contest a 95-95 stalemate.
Remaining Undercard
The IBF Youth super middleweight title remained vacant, as Jack Gregory (7-1-1, 2 KOs) and Hayden Emmerson (9-4-1, 6 KOs) fought to a majority draw.
Ben Mahoney (16-0-1, 9 KOs) defended his IBF Pan Pacific super welterweight title for the first time, as he stopped Winston Hill in the sixth round of their meeting.
Hill (7-1, 6 KOs) was down three times before being halted by a body shot in the sixth round.
In eight-rounders, former world champion Jason Moloney (28-4, 20 KOs) started his comeback bid with a fourth-round stoppage of Herlan Gomez (14-3, 10 KOs), while unbeaten super middleweight, Max McIntyre (9-0, 8 KOs) won in the same round Jed Morris (8-3, 7 KOs) in their meeting.
Taylah Gentzen (8-1, 3 KOs) took a points win against Jessica Adams (3-3-1, 3 KOs) in their lightweight clash.
Heavyweight prospect, Termoana Teremoana (9-0, 9 KOs) stayed perfect, stopping German Garcia Montes (9-7, 9 KOs) inside a round and Austin Aokuso (10-0, 4 KOs) stopped Emmanuel Danso (36-11, 30 KOs) in the second round of their light heavyweight four-rounder.
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