Jai Opetaia knocks out Ellis Zorro with huge left hand in first round

Former cruiserweight titleholder Jai Opetaia knocked out Ellis Zorro with a huge left hand in the first round Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

Jai Opetaia continues to impress, title or no title.

The former cruiserweight beltholder from Australia stopped Ellis Zorro with a mammoth left hand to the jaw at 2:56 of the first round of a scheduled 12-round bout on the card featuring Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

Zorro (17-1, 7 KOs) landed with his head on the bottom rope, where he remained until the referee waived off the fight.

The fighters were engaged in an uneventful first round — no significant punches had landed — when Opetaia’s big shot changed everything.

Opetaia, arguably the top 200-pounder, announced during fight week that he had vacated his IBF title because the organization refused to sanction the bout after ordering him to face Mairis Briedis in a rematch.

Opetaia outpointed Briedis to win his belt in July of last year.

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