Mairis Briedis (28-1, 20 KOs) will defend his IBF and Ring Magazine World Cruiserweight Titles against undefeated mandatory challenger Jai Opetaia (21-0, 17 KOs) on Wednesday July 2 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia.
Briedis captured the IBF and Ring Magazine World Titles when defeating Yuniel Dorticos in the final of the World Boxing Super Series in September 2020, becoming a three-time World Champion, and cementing his position as a pound-for-pound star and the number one Cruiserweight on the planet.
Following a successful defence of his belts against German challenger Artur Mann in Riga in October 2021, the 37-year-old will now travel down under to face fast-rising Australian star Opetaia on his home turf. The fight was originally scheduled for April 6 but was pushed back after Briedis contracted Covid.
“I look forward to coming to Australia to defend my World Titles,” said Briedis. “I know my opponent is a good boxer. He is a southpaw who is undefeated and who has had a very decent amateur career. As always, I will give my all in training camp and I will come to Australia to show my best boxing. I hope me and Jai can put on a great boxing spectacle for the fans.”
Sydney-born southpaw Optetai is a decorated amateur, who won a bronze medal at the 2012 Youth World Championships and represented Australia at the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games. Following his amateur success, the 26-year-old made his professional debut in 2015 and has earned his shot at Briedis’ Cruiserweight crown with an impressive run of 21 victories.
“It’s a dream come true to get a shot at the World Title and on top of that it’s happening right here on the Gold Coast which is brilliant,” said Opetaia. “I’m a resident in Surfers Paradise so you can’t get any more Gold Coast than that. This is my chance to announce myself to the world. I want to bring home another World Title to Queensland just like Jeff Horn did.”
The fight, which will be promoted by Dean Lonergan for D and L Events in association with Wasserman Boxing, will be the first World Title bout to be held in Australia since Jeff Horn defended his crown against Gary Corcoran just over five years ago in Brisbane.
“This will be a fantastic occasion and I applaud Tourism Events Queensland, Major Events Gold Coast and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate for throwing their support behind what will be a very special event,” said Lonergan.
“We remember that fight (Horn-Corcoran) and also that incredible day when ‘The Hornet’ defeated Manny Pacquiao to win the World Title at Suncorp Stadium in 2017.
“Now we are getting right behind Jai to achieve his dream and bring home another World Title to Queensland and on his own turf on the Gold Coast.”
Despite his Australian counterpart’s optimism, Briedis’ promoter Kalle Sauerland is confident the champion will be returning to Latvia with the belts.
“Mairis Briedis is a three-time World Champion who has consistently fought the best boxers out there,” said Sauerland. “He’s coming to Australia as World Champion and will be leaving as World Champion. His knockout power is sensational but also his technique, his prowess and his finishing abilities. It’s time for Mairis to show once again why he is the number one Cruiserweight on the planet.”
BRIEDIS VS. OPETAIA: PRESS CONFERENCE
It was an introduction befitting of a champion as IBF Cruiserweight king Mairis Briedis (28-1, 20 KOs) was welcomed to Thursday’s press conference, as the champion spoke ahead of his title clash with undefeated Jai Opetaia (21-0, 17 KOs) at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Australia on Saturday.
Described as “the best Cruiserweight in the world”, Briedis has had to wait a little longer than expected to fight with Opetaia due to issues with COVID-19. Following on from the virus, an injury and further surgery meant the Latvian champion had to suffer further pushbacks on the fight date.
However, it seemed to be business as usual for the champion as the relaxed spirit of the IBF champion Briedis was clear for all to see. Sporting a ‘Crocodile Dundee’ hat, he started off by playfully commenting on the two promoters backing of their own fighters during the press conference.
The attentions of the champion quickly turned to his opponent, and after acknowledging the attributes of the Australian, Briedis made it clear that he just needs to do his thing and all will be well come Saturday.
“What I’ve seen on the tapes of Jai, he’s got good technique. He’s flexible, has good speed, and he’ll be happy fighting in his home country. What you see on tape is very different to what you see in the ring,” said Briedis.
“The most important thing for me is to enjoy this fight. I like being in fights that boxing fans find interesting and exciting, it’s for them and we’ll be doing our best in the ring.
Addressing the comments made about the potential battle this fight could become, Briedis opted to quote the legendary Mike Tyson to make his opinions clear.
“He’s predicted this will be a war, but I don’t know how I will feel in the ring or how he will feel in the ring,” he said. “As Mike Tyson said, ‘All the plans change after one punch to the head’. There’s going to be a feeling out process after some dancing and punching. I wish him all the best.”
Opetaia is heading into this fight as the underdog according to betting odds, but he cannot be underestimated as the undefeated fighter. Ready to try and seize his moment, he feels this is his unveiling as the new face of the division.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this opportunity, I can’t wait and I feel ready. I know he’s a great fighter, but I’m a new generation of great coming through. Everything he’s done, that’s all in the past now. It’s my time.”
“I know this is a big step up from my past competition,” continued Opetaia. “My last fights I blew them out of the water, I was levels above, and I’m ready to become a world champion”
“I’m ready for those deep waters, I’m ready to dig deep. I know this is going to be a war and I’m ready for it.”
Wasserman Head of Global Boxing, Kalle Sauerland, sat alongside IBF Cruiserweight king Briedis to support his fighter. With a relationship that stems back many years, Sauerland spoke of the levels to this game and why all his confidence lies with his fighter to reign supreme over Opetaia and the rest of the Cruiserweight division.
“His belly is still very much empty and he’s raring to go, he could have quite easily stopped after winning the Muhammad Ali trophy. He signed a new deal to extend his career and he’s here to take care of business, then we’ll go off and unify again,” said Sauerland.
“He won the WBSS (World Boxing Super Series) the second time round after losing an epic fight against Oleksandr Usyk; a fight which people still contest the winner to this day. If you want to talk about pedigree, this is a guy who is a three-time world champion. Not once, not twice; but three times.”
He continued, “Jay (Opetaia) is taking a step up on Saturday night, and to give him and his team credit they’re doing it against the best of the Cruiserweight champions out there. This is someone The Ring magazine recognise as the best in the division. They’ll be asking themselves the night before the fight whether they’ve been at this level before and if they’ve had their chins checked – Mairis certainly has. I can’t wait for Saturday, it’s going to be an unbelievable fight, and this will certainly not be going the full 12 rounds.”
With both fighters now fully fit and raring to go, Promoter Dean Lonergan was equally full of anticipation and excitement ahead of this IBF Cruiserweight title fight.
“This will be one of the all-time great fights we see here in Australia, with two guys who do not want to take a backwards step,” said Longergan. “I think it’ll be an all-out war. I think you’re going to see a lot of blood, a lot of gore. And you’re going to see some amazing boxing skills; it’ll be something special.”
The IBF Cruiserweight World Championship clash between Mairis Briedis and Jai Opetaia is available to watch live on FITE
BRIEDIS VS. OPETAIA FIGHT CARD
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IBF WORLD CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
MAIRIS BRIEDIS – 14st 3lb 1oz
JAI OPETAIA – 14st 2lb 7oz
Light Heavyweight Bout – 10 Rounds
FARIS CHEVALIER – 12st 6lb 8oz
CONOR WALLACE – 12st 6lb 6oz
Junior Middleweight – 10 Rounds
JOEL CAMILLERI – 10st 13lb 4oz
KOEN MAZOUDIER – 10st 13lb 12oz
Junior Bantemweight Bout – 10 Rounds
TAYLAH ROBERTSON – 8st 2lb 14oz
YOSELIN FERNANDEZ – 8st 13lb 14oz
Featherweight Bout – 8 Rounds
DANA COOLWELL – 8st 13lb 11oz
LORENZ LADRADA – 8st 13lb 5oz
Middleweight Bout – 10 Rounds
ISAAC HARDMAN – 11st 6lb 1oz
BEAU HARTAS – 11st 5lb 8oz
Cruiserweight Bout – 4 Rounds
DAVID NYIKA – 14st 3lb 14oz
LOUIS MARSTERS – 14st 3lb 12oz