Boxing
'Who'd turn that down?' - Opetaia understands allure of Paul payday for Zurdo amid unification chase
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Jai Opetaia believes he is the "biggest payday" for Jose Ramirez in a cruiserweight unification bout, but admits he understands the allure of a Jake Paul bout for his rival too.
The IBF champion faces Claudio Squeo this June as he looks to see off the latest challenger to his crown, having last dispatched David Nyika in a major homecoming show.
Opetaia is chasing further titles in the division, and has WBA and WBO strap holder Zurdo in his sights, but there are rumours the latter could entertain a bout with Paul instead.
The latter is chasing a shot at a belt himself, even as he works up from the lower ranks, and would offer a rich purse, which Opetaia admits he gets as a carrot for Ramirez.
"I feel like I'm the cruiserweight that generates the most money with [him], the biggest payday fight, but it's a risk for him," the Australian told The Ring when asked on a bout.
"I honestly believe if he wants to call himself the best cruiserweight in the world, he's got to beat me first, and until he does that he's not. I don't know what he wants to do.
"[If] he's chasing coin, you can't knock him if he wants to fight Jake Paul for a huge lump sum of money. Who'd turn that down? I'd bash Jake Paul for a couple [of million] too
"I'm chasing unification fights. IÂ believe I am the best in the division and I believe if I just keep winning, the money's going to come anyway, so I just need the fights to happen."
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