Competing at the ‘Day of Reckoning’ boxing mega-card in Saudi Arabia, Australia’s Jai Opetaia has delivered a stunning one-punch, first-round knockout of Ellis Zorro to maintain his unbeaten record and remind the world that he is the best cruiserweight on the planet.
Fellow Australian Mark de Mori was demolished in the first round by a title contender, while Daniel Dubois claimed a big career-reviving win over Jarrell Miller.
So far, there have been stoppages in all five of the bouts so far.
Still to come are two massive heavyweight battles between Anthony Joshua and Otto Wallin, and Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker.
Before that, Dmitry Bivol and Lyndon Arthur face off for the WBA light heavyweight title.
Follow the action in our live blog below!
Boxing: Day of Reckoning SUN 24th DEC 3AM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
HUGE CALL OVER ‘INEVITABLE’ OPETAIA
Opetaia was stripped of his IBF cruiserweight world title for taking a Saudi Arabian payday to fight Ellis Zorro, but caught his opponent with a left to the chin and sent him crashing to the canvas in the dying seconds of the first round.
“I trained for 12 rounds, but if the knockout comes, it comes,” Opetaia said.
“He was very hesitant, but he was a bit too hesitant and he got clipped. That’s the way it goes.”
“I did [take some of the week’s frustration out in the ring], but look at this place. I’m happy to be here,” Opetaia added.
“I’m pumped, first round knockout, I’m ready for the next fight.
“The last 18 months is all part of the journey.
“It’s all built to where I am now and I’m excited for the next step.
“These dudes put the people in front of me and I knock them out.”
Meanwhile, promoter Eddie Hearn says it is ‘inevitable’ that Opetaia takes over the entire division before moving up to heavyweight.
“I believe Jai can do the same thing [as Oleksandr Usyk],” Hearn says.
“I would like to see him become undisputed in the cruiserweight before he moves up to heavyweight.
“And that is inevitable, this is one of the most exciting fighters on the planet
“He’s one of the best fighters on the planet.”
Meanwhile, Australian journeyman Mark de Mori was never expected to give Filip Hrgović much trouble, and the predictions came true when the mandatory IBF challenger stopped the Aussie in the opening round.
“To be honest, I expected this type of scenario,” Hrgović (17-0, 14 KOs) said.
“This was a keep busy fight … I am ready for a title.
“IBF declared that I am next in line, I should fight winner of Tyson Fury – Usyk.”
Joshua & Wilder agree to 2024 mega clash | 00:38
DUBOIS CLAIMS STATEMENT WIN
Daniel Dubois put himself back into heavyweight title contention by defeating – and stopping – Jarrell Miller in a gutsy final-round TKO.
Miller, who has faced multiple failed drug tests and bans in his career, weighed in at over 300 pounds for this fight but failed to live up to his big-talking build-up to the fight – and the 38 year-old’s career is on the ropes after a first-ever stoppage loss.
Dubois landed his jab exceptionally off the back foot all fight as Miller lumbered forward.
Dubois came through a scare in the middle rounds and could have cruised to victory in the tenth and final round, but instead hunted a knockout victory – and the referee stepped in with just eight seconds remaining.
“It was a great fight and I’m glad I came through it. I showed my heart,” Dubois said afterwards. “I knew I had to get out there and work.
“This was an important win for me.”
Dubois, who has repeatedly faced allegations of being a ‘quitter’ in fights, said he had proved to himself that he’s worthy of fighting on the big stage.
“I had to prove it to myself, I had to show myself that I was a real fighter,” Dubois said.
HOW TO WATCH
Boxing fans in Australia will be able to tune into the card via Main Event on Kayo Sports
Click HERE to order now!
START TIME
The Day of Reckoning card kicks off at 3am (AEDT).
WHEN IS IT
The biggest boxing card this year is on December 24, AEDT.
FULL FIGHT CARD + RESULTS
Anthony Joshua v Otto Wallin — heavyweight
Deontay Wilder v Joseph Parker — heavyweight
Dmitry Bivol v Lyndon Arthur — for WBA light heavyweight title
Daniel Dubois def. Jarrell Miller via tenth-round TKO (2:52)
Agit Kabayel def. Arslanbek Makhmudov via fourth-round TKO (2:03)
Jai Opetaia def. Ellis Zorro via first-round KO (2:56)
Filip Hrgovic def. Mark De Mori via first-round TKO (1:46)
Frank Sanchez def. Junior Fa via seventh-round TKO (2:42)
LIVE BLOG:
Follow along for live updates from the ‘Day of Reckoning’. Can’t see them? Click here!
FULL CARD PREVIEW
Later, Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker will be looking to play spoiler on the biggest boxing card of the year, hoping to ruin plans for a fight between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.
The highly-awaited bout, which Joshua said would be the “biggest fight in the world” in an interview with Sky Sports, appears to be on track for 2024 should both have their hand raised on Sunday morning in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua will be gunning for this third win from as many fights in 2023, having previously beat Jermaine Franklin Jr by unanimous decision in April before a seventh-round stoppage success against Robert Helenius in August.
“I know where I’m going in my life but I’ve got to say this is a checkpoint and if I don’t get past this, there is no future so I’m fully locked in to Otto Wallin and doing the job,” Joshua told reporters at Friday’s press conference.
The only three losses of Joshua’s career have come to Andy Ruiz and current world champion Oleksandr Usyk (twice), while his opponent on Sunday has just the one professional defeat in his career, coming at the hands of Tyson Fury.
Wallin, a Swedish southpaw, described it as a “big fight and big opportunity” for him.
“I’m going to win the fight and it shouldn’t be an upset, it’s natural and it’s my time,” he said.
In the co-main event, Wilder — who has fought less than one professional round in the last two years — will hope ring rust won’t get the best of him against Kiwi Joseph Parker.
Parker boasts a 33-3 record with 23 knockouts and has only been stopped once in his career, going down to Joe Joyce in 2022.
The Kiwi has only improved from that point though, currently on a three-fight win streak with two coming by knockout.
Wilder though, who was has won 42 of his 46 fights by knockout, is promising to get the stoppage on Sunday.
ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of the Day of Reckoning
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“I come to do what I do best, and that’s what the fans want to see, no one wants to see a 12-round fight and we are heavyweights and hard hitters, they wanna see us fight and then afterwards go party,” Wilder said.
“Nowadays my name is called Dr Sleep and I’ve definitely got the NyQuil in my right hand.”
There is plenty on the line for both Wilder and Joshua on Sunday, with a loss or injury the only two potential roadblocks to the pair facing off in the ring.
“Now the moment has come where it’s the closest that it’s ever been in history right now,” Wilder told Sky Sports.
“The closest that it’s ever been. I’m excited to say that. I’m not 100 percent sure that it’s going to happen. There’s a lot of things that has gone on, a lot of things that has been done.
“You can’t be 100 percent until that bell rings and that first punch has been thrown.”