Viddal Riley would willingly fight Jai Opetaia next if he wins his IBF cruiserweight title eliminator against Mateusz Masternak on April 4.
Their European cruiserweight title fight – Poland’s Masternak is the defending champion – on the undercard of Deontay Wilder-Derek Chisora at London’s O2 Arena, was made an eliminator for the title held by Opetaia but which remains the subject of doubt.
Opetaia risked being stripped when he fought for the lightly regarded Zuffa Boxing title against Brandon Glanton earlier in March, and despite his victory and the IBF resisting making their title vacant his next move remains unclear.
If he continues to reign as champion, Britain’s Riley, 28 years old, will be ready to fight him, according to his promoter Kalle Sauerland of MF Pro. The proven Masternak, 10 years his senior, regardless stands in his way.
“When we signed Viddal a lot of people said ‘Great signing – but what’s next?’,” Sauerland told BoxingScene. “‘We want to defend the British title.’
“To put it now as a fight which gives us a world dimension to it is simply fantastic. It’s the right decision by the IBF to do so, and it’s [an opportunity] we intend to take with both hands.
“Opetaia is definitely the man to beat at cruiserweight. But his career path is now probably on a slightly different trajectory and I wouldn’t expect him now to be defending the IBF belt. If he does, brilliant. I’ve spoken to Viddal and that’s a fight we won’t move out of the way of.
“He’s a very good cruiserweight. I promoted two fights with him against Mairis Briedis – both touch-and-go fights. Both real battles. But at the same time I saw a lot of weaknesses in him. He’s definitely beatable. There’s absolutely nothing that Viddal has to fear when it comes to him. If that’s what happens next, that’s what happens next. Realistically, the belt will become vacant and it’s a very interesting situation then.
“Delighted that the show on the 4th of April has got that little bit bigger.”
