Jai Opetaia dominates Glanton to defend cruiserweight crown

Sāmoan boxer Jai Opetaia has continued his rise in world boxing, defending his cruiserweight title with a commanding win over American fighter Richard Glanton.

The Australian-based Opetaia dictated the pace across 12 rounds, outworking his opponent and landing the cleaner punches to secure another convincing victory in Las Vegas on Monday (NZ time).

The fight started at a fast pace as Jai Opetaia established control early with his reliable jab, patiently picking his shots.

Glanton, known for his toughness and ability to absorb punishment, showed exactly that as he weathered heavy shots through rounds three to six.

As both fighters began to fatigue in the middle rounds, Opetaia remained the busier fighter. He worked effectively on the inside, putting together sharp combinations and mixing in some vicious uppercuts.

Rounds eight and nine saw Glanton warned by the referee for low blows, and later in the fight, he was cautioned again for holding as he tried to slow Opetaia’s rhythm.

Despite the pressure, the American continued to push forward.

In rounds 11 and 12, Glanton attempted to get on the inside, but Opetaia controlled the exchanges and defused the pressure with smart positioning.

Late in the 12th round, Opetaia landed a clean shot that rocked Glanton. However, the Australian remained patient and finished the fight on the outside.

Opetaia’s dominance was reflected in the punch statistics, throwing 574 punches compared to Glanton’s 299, landing significantly more throughout the contest.

With the victory secured, Opetaia could now look toward potential blockbuster matchups against either Gilberto Ramírez or David Benavidez, as he continues to chase the unification of the cruiserweight division.