The undercard for Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s super fight is filled with many scintillating bouts, headlined by Jai Opetaia against Mairis Briedis.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s super fight has many scintillating matches in the undercard (Image: Getty)
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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s super fight is set to begin at around 11:05pm on May 18 in the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia. That said, before the main event begins, there are a handful of fights that are worthy of a view, with two titles on the line prior to Fury and Usyk’s clash to see who will be the undisputed heavyweight champion.
In the penultimate bout of the night, Jai Opetaia will be taking on Mairis Briedis for the vacant IBF cruiserweight title. Back in 2022 in Australia, Opetaia defeated Briedis on points to become the cruiserweight champion.
However, Opetaia was forced to vacate his title after he chose to fight Ellis Zorro, going against what the IBF wanted the Australian to do. Opetaia took a hefty payday to fight in Zorro in Saudi Arabia instead of fighting Briedis in a rematch of the 2022 battle.
In the immediate aftermath of the decision, Opetaia said the decision was “not right.” “But it is what it is. I’m not going to sit here and sook,” he said at the time, per Fox Sports. “I’m not sitting here pointing fingers and —. —- like this has been happening my whole career.
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Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis fought each other in 2022 (Image: Getty)
“The odds have always been stacked against me. But I’m still here on the biggest card in history… They’ve tried to hold me back but —- them. I’m here trying to move forward.”
Before Opetaia and Briedis face off, it will be Joe Cordina putting his IBF super featherweight championship and undefeated streak on the line against Anthony Cacace. Cordina comes into the matchup at 17-0-0 with nine knockouts while Cacace is sitting at 21-1-0 with seven knockouts, thought the latter has only had five fights since February 2019 for a variety of reasons.
Though Cacace figures to be the underdog in the matchup, the Irish boxer is confident in his ability to give Cordina a run for his money. “I am not here to make up the numbers. I am here to win that belt,” he told Belfast Live.
Joe Cordina is putting his super featherweight title on the line (Image: Getty)
“Yes, I am the underdog and he is the big favorite. But he is the one with everything to lose. I am just a guy from Andytown living the dream.
“Part of that dream is winning that title on Saturday night, and I have no doubt I can do that. I can’t wait. Being part of this card in Saudi Arabia is brilliant. It is what boxing is all about. And I am ready to deliver.”
Before the three championship bouts, Frank Sanchez will take on Agit Kabayel and Moses Itauma will look to drop Ilija Mezencev in two heavyweight fights. Mark Chamberlain will face Joshua Wahab while Sergey Kovalev will match up against Robin Sirawn Safar in the two matches preceding the heavyweight bouts.
