Jack Massey suffered the first stoppage of his career in Riyadh last night against Jai Opetaia in an IBF cruiserweight championship fight.
The Chapel-en-le-Frith boxer went the distance against Joseph Parker when he sampled life as a heavyweight last year, but he barely laid a glove on the wily Opetaia in the latter’s first title defence.
The Sydney southpaw kept ‘One Smack’ at bay in the first two rounds, but even when Massey found his range in the next two, the champion rallied back with hefty blows of his own.
Opetaia has had joy against recent British opponents, and although Massey lasted longer than Jordan Thompson and Ellis Zorro combined, a cut above his left eye caused problems as did a lightning right hook to the jaw in the fifth.
With the 31-year-old High Peak hitman unable to find answers to the Aussie’s onslaught, his trainer Joe Gallagher correctly threw in the towel two minutes into the sixth.
"I felt good, nothing but respect to Jack and his family, big thanks to my family too,” the Australian said.
"We jumped through some hurdles to get here, so many ups and downs but we stayed strong and together. The ins and outs of boxing."
As well as retaining the IBF belt, Opetaia remains the Ring Magazine and lineal cruiserweight champion, and is unbeaten in his 26 pro fights. A mouthwatering unification contest against the winner of Chris Billam-Smith and Gilberto Ramirez could await.
It’s back to the drawing board for Massey, who is now 22-3, and may look to rebuild momentum against domestic opponents.
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