Jack Massey had hoped for a fairytale night in Saudi Arabia, but Jai Opetaia shattered those dreams with a commanding performance that forced the Brit's trainer to throw in the towel.
From the outset, Opetaia took control, dominating the center of the ring and pressuring Massey, who gave up too much ground. Although Massey managed to land a solid right hand to the body, he offered little to trouble the champion in the first.
In the second round, Opetaia's powerful right hook quickly put Massey on the defensive, forcing him into the corner. Opetaia's footwork was sharp, keeping him just out of reach as Massey aimed for body shots but struggled to connect.
Massey showed more fight in the third round, landing a strong right hand and throwing more punches than before. He followed up with a body combination, trying to frustrate Opetaia, but the champion remained unphased. By the end of the round, Opetaia had Massey pinned in the corner again, landing a flurry of punches before the bell—an impressive showing for the Kiwi.
Massey entered the fourth round with renewed aggression, landing a solid right hand and finishing the round with several combinations. However, Opetaia's movement continued to give Massey problems, allowing him to evade much of the offense. As the round drew to a close, Opetaia again trapped Massey in the corner, refusing to give him any space to breathe.
Jack Massey had hoped for a fairytale night in Saudi Arabia, but Jai Opetaia shattered those dreams with a commanding performance that forced the Brit's trainer to throw in the towel
In the sixth round, Massey entered survival mode, throwing everything he had at Opetaia but failing to make a significant impact. Instead, he absorbed more punishment from Opetaia
The towel was thrown in from Massey's corner to end the contest at the Kingdom Arena
In the fifth round, Opetaia reasserted control with his jab, outworking Massey by throwing nearly 40 more punches. Massey held up well under the pressure and managed to counter, but Opetaia's increased pace and precision were taking their toll. Massey sustained a cut over his right eye and was hurt by a powerful body shot, forcing him to clinch and survive the round.
Opetaia, relentless and refusing to let up, continued to press until the bell, cementing his dominance as the fight headed into the later rounds.
In the sixth round, Massey entered survival mode, throwing everything he had at Opetaia but failing to make a significant impact. Instead, he absorbed more punishment from the relentless champion before the towel was throw in.
Opetaia retained his title in emphatic fashion, delivering a masterclass performance. Next, he will be looking to face the winner of Chris Billiam-Smith vs Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez.
