Jai Opetaia successfully defended his RING championship and regained the IBF belt in a rematch against Mairis Briedis at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Opetaia showcased exceptional boxing skills and control throughout the fight, dominating for nine rounds. Despite a late comeback attempt by Briedis, Opetaia secured a convincing win with scores of 118-110, 119-109, and 117-111.
This rematch was a significant contrast to their previous encounter in July 2022, where Opetaia had fought through a broken jaw to claim victory. Briedis, who had been inactive since losing his title, struggled against Opetaia’s precision and power.
Opetaia landed crucial punches in rounds four and six, causing damage to Briedis and asserting his superiority. The pace slowed down in the latter part of the fight as Opetaia maintained control and sealed the win through a decision.
Despite a tense moment in round ten when Briedis knocked down Opetaia, the latter recovered and ended the fight strongly. Opetaia extended his undefeated record to 25-0 and successfully defended his championship for the third time. He now holds the IBF title for the second time, never having lost it in the ring.
Looking forward, Opetaia is considering a potential bout with the winner of the Chris Billam-Smith vs. Richard Riakporhe rematch for the WBO cruiserweight title. He also expressed interest in challenging for the WBC bridgerweight title held by Lukasz Rozanski.
Opetaia’s remarkable performance solidifies his position as a top contender in the cruiserweight division, promising fans more thrilling matchups in the future.
