“They get the world title, and then once they get the world title, it’s like their bargaining chip,” Opetaia said. “They’re like, ‘Well, if you want to fight me, you’ve got to pay this much.’ Why are you trying to sell yourself out?”
Opetaia stressed that earning money remains part of the sport, but he believes fighters who focus first on beating the other champions eventually earn the biggest paydays anyway. In his view, success in the ring should come before negotiating leverage.
“Everyone’s got to get paid,” he said. “But I believe if you chase undisputed, the money’s going to come.”
That outlook has shaped Opetaia’s own plans at cruiserweight. The champion has repeatedly said his goal is to collect the other titles in the division before thinking about moving to heavyweight. Winning the belts first, he said, eventually creates its own financial rewards.
Opetaia said some fighters treat a title reign like a short window and try to maximize earnings before the belt disappears. He believes that approach often leads to cautious matchmaking and stalled unification fights.
“But I believe I’m the best,” Opetaia said. “If I just keep winning, the money’s going to come anyway.”
Opetaia said he feels he is entering the strongest stretch of his career and intends to stay active as he pursues the remaining belts at cruiserweight. He believes the division will eventually deliver the fights needed to decide a single champion.
Opetaia returns to the ring Sunday in Las Vegas, where he faces Brandon Glanton in his first appearance under the Zuffa Boxing banner.
Read the full article here