In recently released footage, Australian cruiserweight champion, Jai Opetaia, can be seen training in the gym, showcasing impressive speed and power. Opetaia, who was undefeated with a record of 25-0 (19 KOs) entering the bout, had notably secured two victories against former world champion Mairis Briedis, including a unanimous decision win in May 2024. His opponent for the world title defence was 22-2 Jack Massey, who came off a significant win over Isaac Chamberlain for the European cruiserweight title in June 2024. Massey, with a professional record of 22 wins, 2 losses, and 0 draws (12 KOs) at the time, had previously suffered defeats only at the hands of Richard Riakporhe and, in a step-up to heavyweight, Joseph Parker.
The highly anticipated event, dubbed the “IV Crown Showdown,” took place on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of Riyadh Season 2024. The card featured a series of high-stakes matchups, including the main event which saw the long-awaited unification bout for the undisputed light-heavyweight crown.
Jai Opeteia Impresses on The Pads
Opetaia versus Massey was just one of many anticipated fights on Saturday the 12th of October. The main event was the long-awaited unification bout between 20-0 Artur Beterbiev vs 23-0 Dmitry Bivol for the undisputed light-heavyweight crown – the first of its kind in over twenty years.
Who is On The Jai Opetaia vs Jack Massey Card?
The “IV Crown Showdown” delivered on its promise of explosive boxing action across multiple divisions. Here’s a look at the key matchups and their outcomes:
The Undisputed Light-Heavyweight Clash: Beterbiev vs Bivol
The main event was a historic clash between two undefeated light-heavyweight titans. Artur Beterbiev, known for his devastating power and a perfect 20-0 record with all wins coming by knockout, faced Dmitry Bivol, who held a 23-0 record and was coming off his first stoppage win in six years against Malik Zinad. Beterbiev had previously secured stoppage victories over Callum Smith, Anthony Yarde, and Joe Smith Jr., maintaining his formidable 100% knockout streak. Dmitry Bivol, on the other hand, had showcased his technical mastery in wins against Lyndon Arthur and Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, with his recent TKO over Zinad marking a rare early finish for the WBA champion.
On October 12, 2024, Artur Beterbiev emerged victorious, defeating Dmitry Bivol by majority decision over 12 rounds to become the undisputed light-heavyweight champion. The judges’ scorecards read 115-113, 116-112 in favour of Beterbiev, with one judge scoring it a 114-114 draw. This victory marked a significant milestone, as Beterbiev became the first undisputed light-heavyweight champion in 22 years, though it also ended his perfect knockout record.
However, the rivalry was far from over. In an immediate rematch on February 22, 2025, Dmitry Bivol avenged his loss, defeating Artur Beterbiev by majority decision over 12 rounds. This victory saw Bivol reclaim the IBF, WBA Super, WBC, and WBO Light Heavyweight titles, handing Beterbiev his first professional loss and bringing Bivol’s record to 24-1 (12 KOs). Beterbiev’s record now stands at 21-1 (20 KOs). Bivol is currently scheduled to defend his titles against Michael Eifert on May 30, 2026.
Undercard Highlights: Explosive Encounters and Technical Masterclasses
The undercard of the “IV Crown Showdown” featured several compelling matchups that delivered drama and decisive outcomes:
Jai Opetaia vs. Jack Massey: In the IBF cruiserweight world title defence, Jai Opetaia continued his dominant run, stopping Jack Massey via technical knockout in the 6th round. Opetaia’s impressive speed and power, evident in his training footage, translated effectively into the ring, allowing him to retain his title and maintain his undefeated record, which now stands at 26-0 (20 KOs) after subsequent wins against David Nyika, Claudio Squeo, and Huseyin Cinkara in 2025. Massey, whose record moved to 22-3 (12 KOs) after the loss, has since returned to the ring, securing a TKO victory over Ivan Gabriel Garcia in November 2025, bringing his record to 23-3 (13 KOs). He is slated to face Cheavon Clarke in June 2026.
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Kamil Szeremeta: Also on the card, 33-3 Chris Eubank Jr. took on 25-2-2 Kamil Szeremeta for the IBO middleweight world title. Szeremeta’s two losses prior to this bout came at the hands of former world champions Jaime Munguia and Gennadiy Golovkin, while Eubank’s notable defeats were against Billy Joe Saunders, George Groves, and Liam Smith, whom Eubank defeated in dominant fashion in their rematch. Eubank Jr. delivered a strong performance, defeating Kamil Szeremeta via knockout in the 7th round. This victory improved Eubank Jr.’s record to 34-3 (25 KOs). Following this, Eubank Jr. engaged in two highly anticipated bouts against Conor Benn in 2025, winning the first by unanimous decision in April and losing the rematch by unanimous decision in November, bringing his current record to 35-4 (25 KOs).
Wardley vs. Clarke 2: Perhaps the most anticipated fight on the undercard, 17-0-1 Fabio Wardley faced off against 8-0-1 Frazer Clarke in a rematch for Wardley’s British title. Their first encounter in March 2024 resulted in a split decision draw, a fight many described as a blockbuster. Wardley had previously secured a stoppage win over David Adeleye, while Clarke came off a win over Dave Allen. The rematch proved to be decisive, with Fabio Wardley delivering a devastating knockout victory over Frazer Clarke in the very first round. This emphatic win moved Wardley’s record to 18-0-1 (17 KOs) and solidified his position in the heavyweight division. Clarke, whose record fell to 8-1-1 (6 KOs) after the loss, has since fought three more times, winning one and losing two, bringing his current record to 9-3-1 (7 KOs).
Ben Whittaker vs. Liam Cameron: In a step-up fight, 8-0 Ben Whittaker took on 23-6 Liam Cameron, who had recently lost a very close split decision to Lyndon Arthur in June 2024. The showboating prospect was expected to face his first significant test. The initial bout on October 12, 2024, ended in a technical draw in the 5th round after both fighters tumbled over the top rope, with Whittaker sustaining an injury that prevented him from continuing. A rematch was scheduled and took place on April 20, 2025, in Birmingham, where Ben Whittaker secured a TKO victory over Liam Cameron in the 2nd round, improving his undefeated record to 9-0-1 (6 KOs). Cameron’s record now stands at 24-8-1 (10 KOs) after subsequent fights.
Nicolson vs. Chapman: In a historic moment for Saudi boxing, 11-0 Skye Nicolson defended her world title belt against 9-0 Raven Chapman in the first female fight on a Riyadh Season card. Nicolson, known for her technical prowess and amateur pedigree including a Commonwealth Games gold medal, faced the tenacious and aggressive Chapman. Skye Nicolson successfully defended her WBC featherweight world title, defeating Raven Chapman by unanimous decision over 10 rounds. The judges scored the bout 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93. Nicolson’s record improved to 12-0 (1 KO) after the win. She has since gone on to achieve a record of 16-1 (3 KOs), having suffered her first professional loss by split decision to Tiara Brown in March 2025, but then rebounded with three consecutive wins. Chapman’s record moved to 9-1 (2 KOs) after her first professional defeat. She later lost to Karriss Artingstall in March 2025 by unanimous decision, bringing her record to 9-2 (2 KOs).
In preparation for Jack Massey, whose only losses come at the hands of Richard Riakporhe and, in a step-up to heavyweight, Joseph Parker, Opetaia can be seen dominating the pads in this footage from Churchills Gym:
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