There comes a moment in every elite fighter’s rise when the eye test stops being enough. When mowing down overmatched opposition — however dazzling the highlights may look — no longer moves the needle. When the whispers of potential start demanding proof.

For Jai Opetaia (28-0, 22 KOs), Australia’s brightest export and the man many already regard as the world’s premier cruiserweight, that moment has been dragging on for far too long.

It’s been 1,251 days since he tore the IBF cruiserweight world title away from Latvian Mairis Briedis — a night when he broke his jaw in exchange for breaking the champion’s aura — announcing himself as something terrifyingly special.

And yet, since then, he’s been stranded in the sport’s waiting room: frustrated by politics, mandatories, networks, false promises — everything but an opponent worthy of the level he’s eager to prove he can reach.

Unfortunately, this weekend looks no different.

Saturday night on Australia’s Gold Coast, Opetaia makes the seventh defense of his IBF title at the 200-pound limit against relatively unknown German Huseyin Cinkara (23-0, 19 KOs) in a contest that sees the challenger priced as a +1400 underdog by BetMGM. 

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“It feels good to be back in the ring,” Opetaia, who turned 30 in June, told reporters Tuesday. “Obviously, we want the unification fights, but once again we've been derailed. But we have a job to do. We're still on the mission to become undisputed. So we need to take care of business.

“Every single fight and step in the ring is a statement for me. It's war. I prepare for everything they bring, and this is no different. I belong there and deserve these unification fights.”

These unification fights Opetaia pines for will ultimately allow him to build on the legacy he is currently plotting. His promotor, Mick Francis, has called Opetaia “the best fighter to ever come out of this part of the world,” but until he is able to secure the biggest fights for his charge, Australian legends like Kostya Tszyu and Jeff Fenech will remain out of reach.

It’s not for the want of trying.

Opetaia appeared to be on a collision course with the WBA and WBO strapholder Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) until an all-Mexican clash with David Benavidez — now slated for May 2 next year — turned Ramirez's head.

Ramirez, who beat mandatory challenger Yuniel Dorticos (27-3, 25 KOs) early this summer via unanimous decision, appeared to encourage the Opetaia unification fight post-fight, but has since rowed back on such suggestions.

"That's the fight [vs. Opetaia] that I want," he told Uncrowned’s Ariel Helwani after the fight on the Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. undercard. "I'm the king. Numero uno.”

Five months later, the 34-year-old southpaw’s narrative changed.

"To be honest, I didn't even know who Opetaia was until recently,” Ramirez claimed last week. “Someone told me some things he said, and I think he might have rocks for brains. This guy hasn't impressed me at all; he's fought a bunch of cannon fodders to get to where he is. All these outbursts and spreading lies — saying he called my phone — reminds me of all my ex-girlfriends."

“They're taking the p***, but we just keep winning,” Opetaia responded. “I'm not in any rush. I'm chilling, I'm winning, I feel good and fighting, doing my thing and these fights will come.

“We've spoken and wasted enough breath on Ramirez at this point. He's ducking and his responses continue to emphasize how hard he is trying to avoid the fight.

“It is obvious. You know, in my eyes, I feel like everyone in the division should try and fight for world titles and then when they've got that, they should be trying to fight to unify the division. But obviously these guys have got other things on their minds. I can really only focus on what I can focus on and beat whoever they put in front of me.

“It’s mad that being the best fighter in the division isn’t enough. You also have to sing and dance on social media — it blows my mind that this is what it takes to get a fight over the line.”

WBC titleholder Badou Jack (29-3-3, 17 KOs) runs it back with Noel Mikaelian (27-3, 12 KOs) on Dec. 13 at the Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, and Francis has posited the idea he and Opetaia will fly out to this fight in order to push for a unification in the direction of the winner.

“I won't let anyone rush me or speed up the process of accomplishing my dreams,” Opetaia added. “I don't know why I'd have to fly over and get in his [Jack’s] face; it's becoming a bit stupid.

“Everyone wants these fights to be made, people want to see these unification fights. If he wants to fight, we'll fight.

“We have always gone against the grain and done things differently. Now you're starting to see it, but it's another day in the office for us. I just focus on winning, because that's what matters. If I lose the fight, they'll all scatter.”

Another hurdle that could stand in the way of Opetaia and his unification dream is the apparent disassociation with Matchroom Boxing — and broadcaster DAZN — as a shared promoter alongside Francis’ Tasman Fighters.

Australian broadcaster Stan Sport, on the very first date of its new deal with Tasman, will exclusively beam Opetaia vs. Cinkara into living rooms across Australia this Saturday. For everyone outside Australia’s borders, the bout will also stream live on UFC Fight Pass.

Whether Tasman’s relationship with DAZN and Matchroom will continue away from domestic Australian-staged events is yet to be known.

Opetaia will understand that the noises surrounding his career will evaporate if he isn’t successful on Saturday — and his opponent, Cinkara, is making the right noises.

“Squeo [Opetaia’s last opponent] seemed to be too polite,” the 40-year-old said upon arrival in Australia. “I'm coming over to knock Opetaia senseless in front of his own fans.”

“They always just want to put me down,” Opetaia said at the final press conference. “All I can do is win my fights in the fashion I win them. So no matter what he says, bro, if I'm that easy of a fight, come and f***ing find out.”