Defeated Claudio Squeo has hailed Ring Magazine champion Jai Opetaia for helping him address what his surgeon described as 'the worst broken jaw I've ever seen'.

Cruiserweight Opetaia moved to 28-0 and successfully defended his IBF title when he stopped the game but ultimately overmatched Italian in the fifth round of their clash at the Gold Coast Convention Centre on Sunday.

The right hook which finished the fight also broke Squeo's jaw and Opetaia revealed afterwards that he felt the damage to his opponent instantly. The Australian is no stranger to jaw damage, having broken both sides of his own during a first meeting with Mairis Breidis at the very same venue in July 2022.

Opetaia, who said he ate nothing but noodles for months after the injury, was immediately 'concerned' about Squeo's injury and made moves to ensure he was looked after correctly.

And, after undergoing emergency surgery to address the fracture, the previously undefeated challenger took to Instagram paying tribute to Opetaia and his team for their help.

He wrote: "Many of you are writing to me to ask about my condition. I just came out of surgery to fix the two fractures I sustained in my jaw during the match. The operation went very well. I'm fine!

"All of this was possible thanks to Jai Opetaia's team, who are treating me like a brother. They took me to Shannon Webber, the best surgeon in Australia. A special thanks goes to Tasman Fighters for treating me like family and to manager Michael Francis.

"I learned that right after the match, Opetaia was concerned about my condition and told his team to take care of me in every way possible. This shows us who the current IBF cruiserweight champion truly is - not just a boxing phenomenon, but a real man, endowed with great sensitivity and heart.

"Beyond my respect for him, his team has truly touched my heart, and I'll forever cherish them. I've lived unforgettable days that have helped me grow and changed my life. This is a boxing story driven by extreme men, filled with incredible tension, but also by boundless mutual respect."