Tell him he’s dreamin? Aussie superstar’s top world title rival’s ‘stupidly ridiculous’ demand

Jai Opetaia’s biggest world title rival has been accused of trying to price himself out of a unification blockbuster against the Australian superstar – with Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez having demanded a whopping $12 million for a US headliner in 2026.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis has confirmed Mexican superstar Ramirez – who holds both the WBO and WBA cruiserweight straps – has demanded a purse of US$8 million to throw down against the Central Coast product.

The revelation comes as Opetaia now readies for what will be his third straight IBF title defence this year, with the 30-year-old set to face undefeated mandatory Huseyin Cinkara on the Gold Coast, December 6.

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Apart from being on an undefeated tear stretching 10 years and 28 fights, Opetaia has also effectively held both the IBF and Ring cruiserweight crowns for three years – and after famously upsetting Mairis Briedis with a jaw broken in two places.

Ever since, the big punching southpaw has been pushing to unify the division, which right now means both ‘Zurdo’ and WBC cruiserweight champ, Badou Jack.

Ramirez, in particular, has so far proved impossible to tie down, with the Mexican currently sidelined until at least early next year after undergoing shoulder surgery.

As a result, Opetaia recently met with billionaire Saudi promoter Turki Al-Sheikh, who outlined a four-fight plan for the Australian that goes Cinkara, Jack, Ramirez and then, potentially, David Benavidez.

Yet Francis has revealed the longstanding issue with making any unification with Ramirez hasn’t been His Excellency’s willingness for the bout – but Zurdo.

“Because Ramirez has been asking for US$8 million,” Francis revealed. “That’s the figure he has been demanding previously.

“Which is ridiculous.

“Yes, every fighter has a value.

“But Zurdo Ramirez’s value isn’t eight million.”

Pushed on the continuing negotiations with Ramirez’s promoter Golden Boy, Francis said: “Look, when trying to make this fight initially the money offered to both guys was extremely lucrative.

“And Jai was actually happy to forgo the majority of his purse.

“He was going to give it to Zurdo, just to make sure the bout took place.

“However, that still wasn’t enough for the guy.

“Which is why right throughout these negotiations it hasn’t mattered who likes the fight, at the end of the day it’s up to Ramirez.

“Because he’s the one who has to step through those ring ropes and face Jai Opetaia …”

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A case of the Mexican pricing himself out of a fight?

“It’s the oldest trick in the book, right?” Francis replied. “Talk about how much you want to fight a guy, then demand some stupidly ridiculous number that just doesn’t make sense.

“He (Ramirez) is hiding behind those numbers.

“That’s what he’s doing here.

“Ramirez knows the money he’s asking for doesn’t exist for this particular fight.

“And that’s what is holding things up.

“Which is a shame because when it comes to the world’s best cruiserweights, Jai Opetaia is number one. And there’s nobody else in the division who matches him.

“Zurdo Ramirez?

“I don’t think he survives more than six rounds.”

Speaking with The Daily Telegraph when his latest fight was announced, Opetaia claimed that, during his recent meeting with Turki Al-Sheikh in Las Vegas, the heavyweight promoter had reached out to Team Ramirez during their discussions.

“He actually reached out to Ramirez’s team on the spot,” the Aussie explained. “[But Ramirez] needed some time to recover, so they said it’ll be Badou Jack first, then ‘Zurdo’.

“It’s all been said, it’s all been done.

“I’ve spoken to them.

“So, the only reason these fights won’t happen is if they’re a bunch of pussies.

“That’s the only reason. I’ve done all the work, I’ve sat down with Turki Alalshikh, he said he wants it to happen.

“So the only reason it won’t happen is if they’re scared to fight me.”

Francis explained that rather than being a Riyadh Season event in Saudia Arabia, a Ramirez showdown would be staged by The Ring Magazine – with Los Angeles already being discussed between the parties as a likely host city.

But as for Turki Al-Sheikh now finding a suitable outcome?

“Well, I know the figure being offered to Ramirez is right up there,” Francis said.

“But The Ring is also a privately owned company.

“So if fights don’t make financial sense, they don’t happen.

“It’s that simple.

“But again, Jai is doing everything he can to make these fights because, for him, it’s all about legacy.

“He is determined to become undisputed.”

Back in June, Opetaia defended his world title within five devastating rounds on the Gold Coast, eventually stopping Italy’s Claudio Squeo with a brutal right hook that dropped and broke the jaw of his rival.

Only seven weeks later, Ramirez would also defend his WBO and WBA titles against Yuniel Dorticos on the undercard of what would be a Jake Paul win against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Speaking after his own finish, Opetaia had said: “Next fight, Zurdo Ramirez.

“Let’s get it on. I’m chasing that belt, let’s go.

“I’m not here to bad mouth him or beat him down.

“But the fight is easy to be made.

“We are ready. Whenever you call, we are ready.

“I believe I’m the best boxer in the cruiserweight division.

“Let’s make the fight happen. Anyone who thinks they’re the best, they’re not the best until they beat me. Anywhere, anytime, just pick up the phone.”