A ‘dark and moody’ Jai Opetaia feels he belongs at boxing’s top table as the Australian cruiserweight prepares to win back his world title in Saudi Arabia.
The unbeaten 28-year-old’s (24-0) rematch with Latvia’s Mairis Briedis is the co-feature on Sunday morning’s (AEST) undisputed world heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh.
The pair waged war for the IBF world title on the Gold Coast almost two years ago, Opetaia defying a twice-broken jaw to upset the champion in a unanimous points decision.
Briedis, 39, hasn’t fought since.
Opetaia was dodged by other belt-holders, eventually securing a defence against the hapless Jordan Thompson in London and then wiping Ellis Zorro with a first-round knockout in his Riyadh debut last December.
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Jay Opetaia is hoping to end a recent run of Aussies losing world title shots when he takes on Mairis Briedis
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Opetaia, from the Gold Coast in Queensland, broke his jaw and still bravely managed to beat Briedis last time they fought in 2022
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Opetaia gets his world title shot against Briedis on the Tyson Fury/Oleksandr Usyk undercard
The second of those fights forced Opetaia to hand in his IBF strap, the organisation refusing to sanction the bout and demanding he instead fight Briedis despite the injured Latvian’s unavailability.
That fight’s now happening and the vacated belt is up for grabs, Opetaia with the opportunity to restore some order after a run of world title-fight losses for compatriots Tim Tszyu, George Kambosos Jnr, Jason and Andrew Moloney.
‘I feel like a whole different version of myself now,’ an unflinching Opetaia said.
‘I’ve picked it up a few levels. I’m 28 now, just going into my prime.
‘I’m the next generation of greatness coming through. I look around and I see greatness everywhere.
‘And I’m honoured to be in front of them, but it’s my time now.’
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Opetaia believes this title shot will help him show the world that he is capable of greatness
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While Opetaia has been in good form and is ready for the bout, Briedis hasn’t fought since he last took on the Aussie
Queensland-based New Zealand cruiserweight David Nyika (8-0) is also on the bill, fighting Germany’s Michael Seitz (12-0) for a chance to enter the division’s world rankings.
‘Jai seems pretty dark and moody; he’s got a lot going on but his priority seems to be to tear Briedis apart,’ Nyika told AAP.
‘He’s the best guy in the division right now, with a target on his head, but alot of guys don’t want anything to do with him.
‘But money talks and there’s money floating around in Saudi making these fights happen.’
The Gold Coast-based Opetaia made history as a 17-year-old at London’s 2012 Games, the country’s youngest Olympic boxer watching on as Usyk claimed gold.
The Ukrainian went on to unify the cruiserweight division and can now become the first man since Lennox Lewis 25 years ago to hold all of the heavyweight straps if he beats Fury.
Opetaia would love to fight Usyk, English promoter Eddie Hearn open in his plans to eventually promote the Australian to the heavyweight division.
But unification is the next step should Opetaia find a way past the Latvian (28-2), whose only other loss was to Usyk in a tight points decision six years ago.
‘I have big respect because when we fought, I saw a real warrior in the ring,’ Briedis said of Opetaia.
