Undefeated fighter Jai Opetaia is set to land the next major world title fight in Australia. Here’s when the Central Coast champ could face Mairis Briedis.
Jai Opetaia is set to challenge for the first major world title fight held in Australia since Jeff Horn defeated Manny Pacquiao in front of 51,000 delirious fans.
The IBF has mandated Central Coast’s Opetaia to fight cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis by April 14, 2022, however negotiations are being held to stage the fight in late January-early February.
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Briedis defends his belt in an optional defence against Artur Mann in his native Latvia this weekend, having not fought for a year due to Covid-19 restrictions.
However, even if Mann were to pull off a monumental upset, the IBF have issued a statement confirming the undefeated Opetaia (20-0, 16KO) will face the winner.
“This is what I’ve been working towards for my whole life, I’m finally going to tick the box,” Opetaia said.
“People are excited about getting a world title shot. But I’m going in there to win, not just participate.
“I’m bringing the belt home.
“Hopefully that fight can happen in Sydney, with the Covid stuff going on, the closer to home the better.”
Opetaia’s promoter Dean Lonergan – who staged the Horn vs Pacquiao event at Suncorp Stadium in 2017 – is confident of landing the bout here.
“Our initial discussions with Briedis’ promoter Wasserman suggests they would be happy to come to Australia if all the conditions are right.
“Team Opetaia, myself and Fox Sports all want that fight in Australia as well. We haven’t had a major world title fight in Australia since Jeff Horn versus Manny Pacquiao and then Horn defended his title in Brisbane against Gary Corcoran.
“We expect to be fighting Briedis. We’re looking at late January or early February, but it has to suit Wasserman and Briedis.
“Our experience with the Manny Pacquiao fight was that it took months and months to get over the line so it takes patience.”
Briedis (27-1, 19KO) was supposed to defend his belt against IBF No. 2 Michal Cieslak, but the Polish fighter is mired in a contractual wrangle between two promoters and has not been able to secure a release to fight.
Opetaia, the No. 3, and his team then lobbied to become the mandatory challenger and the IBF has now confirmed he is to be granted a title shot “no later than April 14” next year.
Having recovered successfully from a hand injury that had hampered his career for five years, 26-year-old Opetaia has moved camp to the Gold Coast
“I had forgotten what it was like to have a hand feel this good, every time I’ve sparred there is no swelling,” Opetaia said.
“Before this, when I would spar I would end up sparring on one hand or stopping it altogether because of the throbbing and pain, but now it’s the best it has ever been.”
Opetaia is planning to have a tune-up fight in December before the expected Briedis showdown, and warned: “By the time that fight comes around I will be the fittest I’ve ever been.
“Just talking about that world title fight in the last two days, my training has gone to a new level of intensity. I am pushing my body to its limits.”
Originally published as Australian boxing news: Jai Opetaia to fight IBF world champion Mairis Briedis
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