Jai Opetaia and Ellie Scotney now have confirmed opponents and a location for their upcoming title defenses.
Matchroom Boxing confirmed a previous krikya360.com report of a September 30 DAZN show that will feature both boxers who both make the first defense of their respective crowns. Australia's Opetaia will defend the lineal and IBF cruiserweight championship versus England's Jordan Thompson in the main event, while Scotney will put her IBF junior featherweight title on the line versus Argentina's Laura Soledad Griffin.
Both bouts are part of a recently announced show that will air live from OVO Arena Wembley.
“A huge World Title double-header at the OVO Arena Wembley on September 30 topped by IBF Cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia defending his crown against Manchester's Jordan Thompson and Catford's Ellie Scotney putting her IBF Super-Bantamweight crown on the line against Laura Soledad Griffa," said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn.
Opetaia (22-0, 17KOs) fights for the first time since his thrilling twelve-round points win over three-time champ Mairis Briedis last July 2 in Broadbeach, Australia. The unbeaten champ—who was the youngest boxer ever to represent Australia in the Olympics during the 2012 London Games—suffered a fractured jaw in the fight and also subsequently underwent shoulder surgery earlier this year.
The rest of the downtime has been spent watching a trio of mandatory challengers step aside for various reasons.
“I have been waiting too long for someone to challenge me and now we finally have a fight,” said Opetaia. “Thank you Jordan for stepping up but I hope you are ready!”
Mateusz Masternak and Richard Riakporhe both passed on the chance to fight for the crown. Briedis agreed to stand down and allow the voltunary defense, with the promise of getting dibs at the winner.
That opened the door for the 6'7" Thompson (15-0, 12KOs) to answer the call for his first title challenge.
"Opetaia is the recognized number one in the division and the best guy out there and that’s why he’s the one I want," said Thompson, a Manchester-born and bred contender who now lives and trains in London. "This is my time now and the world will see that on September 30th. I ain’t never been one to just take part, I’m a winner, I’m going to win."
The evening's second title fight will see Scotney (7-0, 0KOs) return to the venue where she won her crown.
The charismatic 25-year-old from the Catford district of London outpointed Cherneka Johnson over ten rounds to lift the IBF strap on June 10 at this very location. The upcoming bout versus Griffa (20-8. 1KO) will mark her third straight fight and fourth overall at OVO Arena Wembley.
“Winning a World Title is every fighter's dream but now I want more,” said Scotney. “I want to prove myself the best Super-Bantamweight in the world, but a true champion also has to be willing to defend her title. I wanted to stay active and getting to defend the belt in the same venue I was crowned World Champion gives me the ideal opportunity to show that there are levels to this sport On September 30 I will show just that.”
Griffa, 37, enters her second career title fight. The Argentine boxer dropped an August 2018 decision to then-IBF titlist Marcela Acuna. She rebounded with a pair of wins before a six-fight losing streak that included a repeat defeat to Acuna but has since won her last two starts entering what could be her final shot at a major belt.
“I am very excited to be fighting for the World Title for a second time,” said Griffa. “Ellie Scotney is a very good and skilful boxer, but she doesn’t have the heart and toughness that I do. I am a true warrior and will bring war to London September. I will break her down bring the World Title back home to Argentina.”
Additional undercard bouts were also announced by Matchroom.
Cheavon Clarke (6-0, 5 KOs) faces Vasil Ducar (14-6-2, 10 KOs) in a regional cruiserweight title fight;
Rhiannon Dixon (8-0, 1 KO) meets Norway’s former title challenger Katherina Thanderz (16-1, 2 KOs) for the vacant EBU European lightweight title;.
Billericay-based middleweight prospect George Liddard (4-0, 3 KOs), rising flyweight Maiseyrose Courtney (4-0) have a quick turnaround after picking up wins on the Joshua vs. Helenius undercard at The O2 in London earlier this month;
Watford junior bantamweight Shannon Ryan (5-0) fights for the sixth time as a pro and Tony Sims-trained middleweight Jimmy Sains makes his professional debut.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox