It's been a rapid rise to the pinnacle of boxing for Australian Jai Opetaia, taking the world by storm as he fought his way to a perfect 23-0 record.
But this sort of success does not come without sacrifice, and Opetaia has had to give up a lot in his life to get to where he is.
As he prepares for the biggest test of his career - a fight against Ellis Zorro in Saudi Arabia - Opetaia reflected on what he has endured to get to this point, and how he plans to keep it going.
“I definitely feel like we've taken the long route. We've had to grind and get through some trenches to be able to get to where we are today. The more pain, the better. That mentality is just what separates me, I feel,” Opetaia said.
“Nothing was ever given to us. And now we're fighting on one of the biggest cards in history over in Saudi, so, the hard work's paying off.
MORE: Fighting & fishing - Opetaia on the cusp of a big haul
“I think the biggest thing that sets me apart is we're on a mission. You know, there's no outside noise.”
We got @jaiopetaia1 to blindly rank boxers from across the world... He's done Tyson Fury dirty here! 😂 pic.twitter.com/6sZaxmS6xd
— TAB (@tabcomau) December 15, 2023
While the allure of being a world-renowned boxing star may seem like a dream to many, Opetaia pulled back the curtain to reveal the sometimes harsh reality of life in the ring
"Nothing else matters at this time in my life. All that matters is winning these fights. People don't understand the sacrifices and the things you've got to miss out on to get to where I am today," he said.
"I miss out on weddings; I miss out on birthdays. I’ve become a stranger to some of my family. You know, and that's what it takes.
"People say they wanna be world champs and be the best in the world. They're not willing to do those sacrifices.
“The gym's one thing, but outside that's the real pain. This pain in the gym, that's temporary. It's that sort of emotional pain that lasts forever, so they can't match me. We sacrificed too much to sort of give up.”
On December 23, Opetaia, now stripped of his IBF title to take the fight, will come up against Ellis Zorro, where he is confident he will have the advantage.
MORE: Opetaia vacates IBF title ahead of Zorro clash
“Man, I just feel like he hasn't done the hard work I’ve done. He ain't been in those deep holes I've been in. I'm not worried about him," Opetaia said.
"You know, I don't care what he's doing, who he's sparring. Anywhere this fight goes, I'm ready. I've earned my spot on this card.”
