Jay Opetia took 44 punches to his stomach in a brutal training regimen ahead of his blockbuster fight this weekend.
The 29-year-old IBF cruiserweight champion is set to defend his belt against Britain’s Jack Massey in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
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Australian Opetaia has been increasing his preparation for the fight with intense training sessions.
In footage filmed by SunSport, the southpaw can be seen being shot 44 times in succession in the stomach.
Throughout the entire 34-second sequence, Opetaia made no attempt to retaliate or defend the blow.
The 25-0 player last played against Maris Briedis in May.
On that occasion he earned back his IBF title, having previously vacated the belt.
The 31-year-old Messi will attempt to dethrone Opetaia in Saturday’s much-awaited match.
The Cheshire lad spent 2022 alongside his brother, before a narrow points defeat to heavyweight Joseph Parker the following year saw his career take off again.
In an emotional conversation with SunSport, Messi recalled his experiences working with his father in a brake pad factory.
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He said: “My father has worked in the same brake pad factory for 40 years.
“He’d always say to me when I was there: ‘Do you want to be stuck here like me for the rest of your life – or do you want to make something of yourself in boxing?’
“When I used to work with my brother, he’d say ‘Do you really want to do this shit?’
“They both told me I could do something with my life through boxing and that stuck with me.
“It’s a bit like that Matt Damon movie where he’s really intelligent and his partner tells him that the best thing that could happen is he drives to the site to pick her up for another day And Damon is gone.
“He always told me that it would be disrespectful to him if he didn’t move on and create something himself. And that thing is stuck in my mind.
“The people on the sites and in the factories are fans of boxing in our country – so it means a lot and it reminds me why I do this.”
