The toughest test of his life awaits in Australia: Cinkara meets cruiser king Opetaia. The IBF mandatory challenger promises: “It will be a battle.”
The journey is long, the moment is huge: on Saturday, Hüseyin Cinkara will step into the ring in Australia that boxing fans have been saying for years was made for such men – for late starters, fighters, the unwavering. The 40-year-old German-Turkish will finally get his world championship opportunity against IBF champion Jai Opetaia, one of the most dangerous cruiserweights in the world, at the Gold Coast Convention Center.
The path there was anything but straightforward. Back in spring 2024, Cinkara secured his status as a mandatory challenger with a spectacular knockout against Armend Xhoxhaj. The victory electrified the scene at the time – many simply didn’t have the man from Speyer on their radar. “If I listened to others, I would have quit eleven years ago,” says Cinkara dryly today.
“Giving up is not my nature”
When the World Cup was due to take place in January 2025, an injury stopped him. At that point, even supporters thought his chance had gone. “Everyone thought it was over. But giving up is not my nature.” The fact that Opetaia’s team later offered him 150,000 dollars to make way for him bounced off Cinkara: “I’d rather box for free for my dream.”
The champion is the clear favorite. Opetaia is regarded as the most complete cruiserweight of the moment – fast, hard, precise and particularly uncomfortable as a southpaw. But the underdog firmly believes he has a chance. Not on points, he knows that too. “I have to hit the hard moments – and be the first to do so.” His style is made for this: deep cover, explosive counter-attacks, dangerous timing. Xhoxhaj has already experienced this painfully.
Opetaia, for his part, warns against arrogance. The fight is a must, but not a walk in the park. One mistake – and Cinkara could realize his dream with a single strike. That’s why some experts believe in the KO guarantee: both men can punch hard, both are under pressure, both have something to prove – just on different levels. “In our country they say: a battle is like a party for Turks,” says Cinkara with a smile. “And Saturday will be a celebration.”
Text by Robin Josten