Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedes press conference live, title shot announced, IBF cruiserweight, where will it be, when is the fight, Justis Huni

Australian boxing gun Jai Opetaia’s planet title battle from IBF cruiserweight winner Mairis Briedis has been locked in but will be delayed by “three or 4 weeks”.

The reigning champ Briedis had previously been seeking to catch the awareness of YouTube star-turned boxer Jake Paul in the hope of catching a multimillion-greenback payday, going as far as getting a tattoo with Paul’s identify on his thigh.

The combat, which was touted to be on April 6, was set to be formally declared at a press convention on Wednesday on the Gold Coast.

But it has been delayed right after Briedis contracted Covid-19.

The combat will take put on the Gold Coastline, but has however to be officially established in stone presented Briedis’ sickness.

Speaking by using a pre-recorded information from Latvia, 37-year-old Briedis stated age would not be an situation.

“I come to feel a lot more assured in my skills and I truly feel like I’m 25,” he explained. “I’ll appear to Australia to display my most effective.”

Opetaia responded by declaring the “fact he’s chatting about his age usually means he’s concerned about it”.

Look at Boxing Dwell & On-Demand on Kayo. Selected international fights, vintage bouts and much more. New to Kayo? Start out your totally free demo now >

Briedis spoke about the venomous snakes and spiders in Australia.

“The Gold Coastline just like other spots in Australia also has venomous spiders, snakes and many different species you want to keep away from, but if you have been apprehensive about what awaits we wouldn’t be going to Australia,” he reported.

It was a quirky moment and 1 that still left observers raising the eyebrows.

Opetaia responded by saying he only desired to worry about his opponent.

The bout will also be the 1st world title struggle held in Australia considering that 2017, when Jeff Horn defended his WBO welterweight crown in opposition to Gary Corcoran by way of TKO.

The combat has the likely to make Opetaia a house name in a great deal the exact way as Horn and George Kambosos Jr, who turned the unified lightweight champion final November.

“This is Jai’s breakthrough fight,” boxing promoter Dean Lonergan mentioned.

“Every fighter has one combat that puts them into the consciousness of boxing followers, and this is it for Jai.

“I’d have liked to have a pair of far more fights to be capable to get his profile up, but the opportunity came together and I spoke to Jai and claimed, ‘Mate, do you want to consider this?’ And he grabbed it in equally fingers and claimed, ‘Whatever you do, get me that combat and get it to Australia.’”

Opetaia has been out of action since his final combat in Oct 2020, as the 26-12 months-aged obtained surgical procedures to repair a broken hand acquiring fought with the injuries for five years.

Extra Coverage

Sport of Thrones star’s crazy 60kg boxing transformation

Probably opponent discovered for US debut as ‘huge announcement’ imminent on Tszyu’s future shift

‘Don’t blink’: Tim Tszyu’s ‘butcher’ brother announces epic professional debut

The southpaw from the Central Coastline retains an remarkable report of 20-, with 16 of these victories arriving by way of a KO/TKO end.

He also has the honour of becoming Australia’s youngest boxer to have gone to the Olympics, as he was just 16 a long time of age when he competed at the London Games in 2012.

Nonetheless, Briedis will unquestionably depict the most significant job of his career, with the 37-calendar year-outdated also holding an remarkable 28-1 file.

Also featuring on the card will be Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni, who is fighting for the first time due to the fact he defeated rugby league wonderful Paul Gallen in June very last calendar year.

Huni was set to contend in the Tokyo Olympics, even so he was pressured to withdraw as he wanted surgery to take care of a damaged hand, an injury he aggravated during the Gallen struggle having endured it right before in his bout in opposition to Christian Tsoye only a thirty day period earlier.