Jai Opetaia Suffers Emotional Loss Ahead Of Fight This Weekend

Jai Opetaia’s former trainer and longtime friend, boxing coach Louis Meehan, was shot and killed in Sydney on Wednesday, just days before Opetaia’s (30-0, 23 KOs) ring return.

Meehan, 32, was shot multiple times in a community center parking lot in the Punchbowl suburb. Paramedics treated him,  but he died at the scene with Police described the killing as targeted and are investigating whether it may be connected to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Meehan was the son of former WBO heavyweight title contender Kali Meehan, and was part of the family’s boxing team. He had known and worked with Opetaia  for years.

“That’s hard. I found out this morning,” Opetaia said Thursday, visibly emotional. “It’s still fresh.”

Opetaia fights WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian on Saturday, September 12, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.