Five months removed from his defeat to IBF and Ring magazine cruiserweight champion, Jai Opetaia, Jack Massey, 22-3 (12 KOs), is ready to leap back into the fray.

Rather than allowing the six round loss he suffered at the hands of the brilliant Australian to end his dreams of winning a world title, the 31 year-old from Chapel-en-le-Frith is planning to use the experience as a launchpad towards another challenge.

After a frustrating and demoralising period of inactivity, Massey boxed three times in 2024 and built momentum as the year passed. He started the year with a quick first round blow out of Steve Ntere, stepped up in the summer to outpoint Isaac Chamberlain and become the European and Commonwealth champion and then rounded out to the year by jetting out to Saudi Arabia to take on Opetaia.

Massey is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025.

“I think for me now the thing is just to stay busy. We had three fights last year so just get back out there as soon as possible. I’m contracted to an eight rounder so just get a fight and just stay busy,” he said.

“Sometimes if you're just hanging on waiting for those big fights, you can become old overnight. Sometimes it's not good just waiting around, waiting for those paydays. You've got to stay busy so that when you do get that phone call, you're ready.

“I believe I've got plenty left in my tank. We'll see what happens down the WBC route and see what happens with Opetaia and [WBA/WBO champion, Gilberto] Ramirez. There’s plenty of big fights out there and domestic ones as well.”

Massey is an accomplished former European champion with - he felt - experience of competing at the highest level. He has shared the ring with former heavyweight champion, Joseph Parker, and a number of top cruiserweights and always acquitted himself well. He knew he faced a stiff task to unseat Opetaia but made the journey to Saudi Arabia in good form, with an experienced team headed up by his trainer, Joe Gallagher, and the belief that he could win.

Although he was as pleased to be there as every other underdog in boxing history, Massey was also in Riyadh for a real fight.

Once the opening bell sounded, Opetaia showed him that there is a level beyond that at which he has been successful.

Massey put in a determined effort but always found himself a frustrating step behind.

Fighters rack their brains for reasons and excuses after suffering defeat but Massey didn’t have to search too hard for a reason as to why he had come up just short.

“I think the way I played it down was, ‘You’ve not just lost to a world champion, he's an elite fighter,’” he said.

“He’s the best in the division and no one comes close to him at the minute. He beats everyone, which he is doing. I don't think he'll have any trouble whatsoever with Ramirez. He'll beat him with ease, I think.

“It's just unfortunate for me that in the world title shot - the biggest fight of my life - I’ve come across an elite fighter.”

The defeat was eye opening rather than crushing. Massey didn’t fly home with his hopes of winning a major world title gone forever. He left Saudi Arabia with first hand knowledge of what it takes to be successful at the very highest level and confident that he has the ability to make his next foray into world class a successful one.

“Definitely, you know, I was catching him with a few shots and this and that but he was just a better guy. He might be a level above me but when I look at the other guys out there, I believe I'm on par or a level above some of those,” he said.

“It was a tough fight and I don't think any future fights are going to be as tough as that unless I step in there again but, then again, I'd be more confident, more experienced and more prepared.

“I think probably the biggest thing I took away is the experience and what I learned from being involved in such a high magnitude fight and fighting such an elite fighter. You’ve got to take something away from being on the biggest stage and fight night of my era.”