Bold claim: Eddie Hearn aims to push Jai Opetaia into a high-stakes test with a 5-0 knockout artist as soon as possible. That’s the core tension in a story that already has Opetaia, the IBF cruiserweight champion, sitting at the center of attention despite only five pro fights under his belt.
Opetaia has claimed the world title bold and twice defeated Mairis Briedis to become a two-time champion. Yet while he’s chased unification bouts, other current cruiserweight titleholders have shown reluctance to put their belts on the line against him. As a result, his defenses have often come against lesser-known opponents, with all five of his wins in those defenses coming by knockout over the last three and a half years.
There’s a sense that Opetaia’s prospects could shift if the looming mega-fight between unified WBA and WBO champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez and crowd-favorite David Benavidez materializes into a three-belt unification later this year. Until that happens, Hearn isn’t waiting around. In an interview with First Round TV’s Darren Barker, he disclosed a plan to pit Opetaia against Pat Brown, a 2024 Olympian, as soon as possible.
Hearn’s enthusiasm for Brown is high. He praised Brown as an “absolute monster” and argued that Opetaia’s power, chin, ring IQ, and technique place him on another level, even if Brown still needs a couple more fights to climb the ladder. The goal, Hearn says, is to position Brown for a world-title mandatory by year’s end.
Current scheduling shows Brown competing in Altrincham on Friday, April 3, while Opetaia is slated to face Brandon Glanton on Sunday, March 8, in Las Vegas. If the plan with Brown comes to fruition, it would mark a dramatic acceleration toward a title showdown for Opetaia, while Brown’s ascent would be accelerated by a high-profile test against a reigning champion.
This setup raises several talking points. Is Opetaia ready for a quick leap up the rankings, or does such urgency risk backing him into a corner against a physically imposing, undefeated opponent? Should more veteran cruiserweights be willing to face him now, given his upside, or is it prudent to let him gain more mileage first? What does Brown’s rapid progression imply about the current talent pool in the division—and about Eddie Hearn’s strategy for managing a young, powerful star?
What do you think: should Opetaia chase immediate high-level challenges, or should he continue building incrementally? And if Pat Brown proves to be the proving ground Hearn envisions, what does that mean for the trajectory of the cruiserweight division in 2026?
