JACK MASSEY has gone from borrowing boxing kit and working on a scaffolding site to fighting for the world title.
Massey challenges IBF cruiserweight champion Opetaia, 29, on October 12 in Saudi Arabia.
But only two years ago things looked very different for the Derby man, who is from the small town of Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Struggling to find a fight and payday, Massey found work on the scaffolding site to earn some cash.
He told BBC Sport: “I had to come out of the gym and get working because I’ve got a family to pay for.
“My brother helped me out with his boss, got me a job on the scaffolding site and that just kept me ticking over.
“But it gave me that push, as in ‘I don’t want to be back doing this. I want to get back to boxing, really push on and make something of it’.”
In the same year Massey and his partner suffered two miscarriages – with the boxer left so devastated he nearly quit the sport.
He admitted: “I was very close, to be honest. It was probably one of the toughest years of mine and my partner’s lives.
“It was a rough one, but we just had to be there for each other and stay positive, and this year alone has shown that you never know what’s around the corner.”
Massey, 31, got a break in January 2023 when he stopped up to heavyweight to fight former champ Joseph Parker, 32.
He was beaten over ten rounds but it revived his prospects back down at cruiserweight.
He won twice more including against a huge upset over Isaac Chamberlain, 30, to win the European and Commonwealth titles.
Now he takes on his biggest test of all against 25-0 Opetaia – but it is familiar territory for Massey.
He said: “I quite like it. I’ve always been that underdog guy, from my amateur days. I’ve had to borrow boots, shorts and fight kit.
“I know I’ve got a very tough night ahead of me, he’s the top guy in the cruiserweight division, but I believe I can get in there, beat him, give it my all and leave everything in there.”
