In January 2023, Jack Massey was chosen as a surprise opponent for former WBO heavyweight champion, Joseph Parker. 

After performing well and taking Parker ten competitive rounds, the avoided cruiserweight would have been forgiven for expecting that his higher profile would open a few doors for him at his preferred weight of 200lbs. 

None of his cruiserweight rivals took the bait and the 31-year-old from Chapel-en-le-Frith spent a frustrating twelve months on the sidelines. 

2024 has been the polar opposite. Massey got the year off to a flying start with a brutal first round stoppage of Steve Ntere and then made the most of a late notice call-up to outbox and outlast Isaac Chamberlain with the Commonwealth and European titles. 

The momentum hasn’t stopped. Massey got married and then announced that, on Oct. 12, he will travel to Saudi Arabia and fight the man widely regarded as the best cruiserweight on the planet, Jai Opetaia, for the IBF world title. 

“You've got to realize that not a lot of people get these opportunities. When it's there, you've got to take it and give it your all,” Massey, 22-2 (12 KOs), told BoxingScene.

“It didn’t sink in at first. Obviously, I had the wedding, I was busy, and then it was a couple of days after and when I was lying in bed, I was like, ‘F**king hell. This is it.’ It’s mad.”

Things got tough during the middle rounds of his victory over Chamberlain and Massey had to ask himself some serious questions. He found the right answers and cemented his win with a strong finish. 

In May, Opetaia boxed Mairis Breidis in a rematch of their bloody, brutal battle of July 2022. Many expected Opetaia to end the rivalry in conclusive fashion but the quality 40-year-old Latvian survived the early rounds, dug in and forced the pace over the championship rounds. 

Opetaia won a wide decision but the sight of Breidis pushing him back has given Massey plenty of encouragement. He knows that he will need to take his game to the next level, but he has been involved in hard distance fights with proven, title level operators like Chamberlain, Parker, Richard Riakporhe and knows that if things get hard, he won’t be found wanting. 

“He finished stronger. I think that was experience showing with Breidis because he's been in a lot of tough fights, twelve round fights,” Massey said. 

“It's that experience that shows at the back end of the fight. He's been there. He's been at the back end of hard fights and he's comfortable. He can finish the twelve rounds off, whereas Jai's got a lot of stoppages on his record.

“I'm not sure how many times he's been the full distance - the full 12 rounds - but I'm guessing it's not as many as Breidis. 

“I think that's the thing as well, when you're looking at a fight, finish strong. If you're watching Opetaia, he slows down towards the end. That's a massive factor that's going to play out. Over 12 rounds, he might start fast, he's really good for four or six, but it's the back end of the fight.” 

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X