'Waste of time': Aussie champion Jai Opetaia takes swipe at rival after fight withdrawal
Aussie champion Jai Opetaia's title defence against Mateusz Masternak is off, with the Queenslander accusing the Polish boxer of refusing to fight.
Opetaia claimed the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title over Mairis Breidis on the Gold Coast last July.
He has been plagued by injuries since the bout and hasn't fought again.
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The IBF delayed its call to order the fight with Masternak when Opetaia was granted a 60-day medical extension to recover from shoulder surgery earlier this year.
That exemption expired on June 1, with the sanctioning body then calling for purse bids, but Masternak pulled out altogether.
Opetaia was due 65 per cent of the winning bid, while the remaining 35 per cent would have gone to Masternak as the No.1 contender.
Opetaia took a swipe at the Polish fighter on social media, calling for a unification fight with new WBO champ Chris Billam-Smith.
"What a waste of time. He used to be a good fighter, now he's a has-been," Opetaia said of Masternak.
"I would've retired him. If you don't want the smoke, why waste the last few months talking shit?"
In a twist, Billam-Smith is now reportedly set to defend his belt against Masternak, while the IBF is set to name No.2 contender Richard Riakporhe as Opetaia's new mandatory.
Mateusz Masternak of Poland. Bongarts/Getty Images
Opetaia has been out of the ring since he won the lineal and IBF cruiserweight championship following a 12-round unanimous decision victory over three-time cruiserweight champ Briedis.
Since then, Opetaia has experienced some trouble outside the ring, along with the injuries that have cruelled the Aussie's chance to defend his belt.
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