Opetaia Expects Aggressive Briedis in Rematch for Vacant IBF Title

Jai Opetaia expects former IBF/WBC cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis to fight more aggressively in their rematch this Saturday night for the vacant IBF title in Riyadh.

Opetaia Predicts “Bad Day at the Office” for Briedis

The former IBF champion Opetaia (24-0, 19 KOs), who is currently belt-less, feels that it’ll be a bad day at the office if the 39-year-old Briedis (28-2, 20 KOs) tries to box with him like the last time they fought in 2022.

That fight was punishing for both fighters, with Opetaia suffering a broken jaw and fading down the stretch from the pressure and heavy shots Briedis was hitting him with.

Opetaia vs. Briedis II will be on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday, May 18th, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event will be shown on ESPN+ PPV and DAZN PPV. The price of the event is $69.99, which is cheap compared to many cards.

Opetaia’s Focus on Championship Belts

“I feel like he’s going to come out more aggressive in this one. I feel like if he sits back and tries to box with me, he’s going to have another bad day at the office,” said Jai Opetaia to Boxing News, talking about his rematch with Mairis Briedis this Saturday night.

“I’m expecting a lot more pressure, but I’ve got an answer for everything he brings. I’ve grown as a fighter, and gotten stronger and fitter.

“I’m chasing belts, that’s it. I’m not chasing names. I’m chasing belts. So, whoever has the belts, that’s who I want to fight.

“I don’t sit back and watch these fighters. I focus on my own path. I train hard every day, and whatever game they give me, that’s who I fight.

“Definitely, I feel like I’m their motivation,” said Opetaia when asked if he thinks the other top fighters watch him. “They know I’m in the trenches. They know I’m working hard. They know when they fight me, they have to come correct.

“I’m hoping to roll out of this injury-free and then roll into the next fight. It’s been good staying active. My career has been a lot of setbacks. To be able to roll into this third fight in six or seven months, it feels good to stay active and we’re on this big card,” said Opetaia.