This morning, Italian boxing woke up to a stunning turn of events. It was officially announced that 34-year-old cruiserweight from Puglia, Claudio Squeo, will face Jai Opetaia for the IBF world title in the division on May 13.
On paper, this is an extremely difficult challenge for our fighter, almost bordering on the impossible. In his 17 professional bouts, Squeo has never faced opponents of top world level, and the only time he raised the bar—against Finland’s Niklas Rasanen—he had to endure moments of real suffering to secure the victory.
Opetaia, on the other hand, is widely regarded as the best cruiserweight in the world and has repeatedly proven his exceptional talent. The Australian boasts brutal power, a wide range of offensive skills, and outstanding timing. Our fighter’s slim hopes lie in those rare moments of vulnerability that Opetaia has occasionally displayed. (Click here to read our analysis on this.)
Despite the enormous challenge ahead, Claudio Squeo is highly motivated and thrilled to fulfill his childhood dream of fighting for a world title. He is now preparing harder than ever to be ready for the big night. Here are the words he shared on social media after the fight was announced:
“There’s no need to explain that this is one of the most intense emotions of my life. The kind that keeps you up at night but fills you with extreme adrenaline.
A childhood dream coming true. So many years of sacrifices, hard choices, and dedication.
Becoming the official challenger for the world title is every athlete’s ambition, even before they step into a boxing gym.
I want to thank Tasman Fighters for this incredible opportunity and Jai Opetaia, the champion who will give me the chance to prove my worth to the whole world.
I won’t let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away, and I will give my absolute best to achieve my goal.
Please forgive me in advance if I don’t reply to every message, but for me, the countdown starts now, and I will be fully focused on training.
I can’t wait to meet the large Italian community in Australia that will come to support me.
Thank you all for your support!”