Jai Opetaia Makes Fifth Defense

With Crunching Fifth Round KO Of Squeo!

By: Rick Rivers

June 8th, Gold Coast Convention Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia: In the main event of the Spencer Brown -Goldstar, Mick Francis - Tasman Fighters, Eddie Hearn Matchroom Boxing co-promoted “Return 2 Paradise” event streamed live on DAZN PPV, Jai Opetaia returned to his hometown for the second time in 2025 to successfully made the fifth defense of his IBF World Cruiserweight title with a dominant fifth round TKO stoppage of Molfetta, Puglia, Italy’s previously unbeaten, Claudio “The Red Bull” Squeo.   

From the outset, the taller, longer, Opetaia, a southpaw, took charge setting the pace, controlling the spacing with his superior hand and foot speed dominating “The Red Bull” landing rapid, sharp combinations.

Squeo, fighting outside of Italy for the first time, aggressive early struggled to land cleanly against the sharper, faster champion seeing Opetaia’s dominance become increasingly clear landing the cleaner, more powerful shots.

In the fourth round, Opetaia appearing to score a knockdown with a body shot, only to be over-ruled by referee Robert Hoyle ruling it a low blow.

Continuing to pile on pressure in round five, the 2012 Olympian, backed Squeo to the ropes with precise combinations where he promptly dropped him to a knee with a tight, crunching right hook initiating a referee Hoyle full count at 0:36 of round five. Immediately calling for a unification bout with WBA Champion Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, Opetaia on a three-bout stoppage run improves to 28-0, 22Ko’s as Squeo showing signs of a possible broken jaw after his first loss dips to 17-1, 9Ko’s.