IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis 28-1 (20) appeared relaxed and ready to rumble ahead of his world title defence against mandatory contender Jai Opetaia 21-0 (17) at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, Australia on Saturday night.
The 37-year-old Latvian is no stranger to fighting on the road, competing in such far flung places as Poland, Greece, Germany, Russia, England and the United States as a pro.
He says he is expecting a stiff challenge from Opetaia, but is confident he can make the adjustments to win.
“What I’ve seen on the tapes of Jai, he’s got good technique. He’s flexible, has good speed and he’ll be happy fighting in his home country. What you see on tape is very different to what you see in the ring,” said Briedis, who also holds The Ring championship at 200-pounds.
“The most important thing for me is to enjoy this fight. I like being in fights that boxing fans find interesting and exciting, it’s for them and we’ll be doing our best in the ring.”
Opetaia is predicting a war, but Briedis is not so sure.
“He’s predicted this will be a war, but I don’t know how I will feel in the ring or how he will feel in the ring,” Briedis said. “As Mike Tyson said, ‘All the plans change after one punch to the head’. There’s going to be a feeling out process after some dancing and punching. I wish him all the best.”
Opetaia is heading into this fight as the underdog for the first time in his pro career, but he cannot be underestimated as the undefeated fighter. Ready to try and seize his moment, he feels this is his unveiling as the new face of the division.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this opportunity, I can’t wait and I feel ready. I know he’s a great fighter, but I’m a new generation of great coming through. Everything he’s done, that’s all in the past now. It’s my time,” Opetaia said.
“I know this is a big step up from my past competition. My last fights I blew them out of the water, I was levels above, and I’m ready to become a world champion.
“I’m ready for those deep waters, I’m ready to dig deep. I know this is going to be a war and I’m ready for it.”
Briedis’ promoter Kalle Sauerland of Wasserman insists his charge is still hungry and that it will show on Saturday night.
“His belly is still very much empty and he’s raring to go, he could have quite easily stopped after winning the Muhammad Ali trophy. He signed a new deal to extend his career and he’s here to take care of business, then we’ll go off and unify again,” said Sauerland.
“He won the WBSS (World Boxing Super Series) the second time round after losing an epic fight against Oleksandr Usyk, a fight which people still contest the winner to this day. If you want to talk about pedigree, this is a guy who is a three-time world champion. Not once, not twice, but three times.”
“Jai (Opetaia) is taking a step up on Saturday night, and to give him and his team credit they’re doing it against the best of the cruiserweight champions out there. This is someone The Ring magazine recognise as the best in the division.
“They’ll be asking themselves the night before the fight whether they’ve been at this level before and if they’ve had their chins checked – Mairis certainly has. I can’t wait for Saturday, it’s going to be an unbelievable fight, and this will certainly not be going the full 12 rounds.”
With both fighters now fully fit and raring to go, Promoter Dean Lonergan was equally full of anticipation and excitement ahead of the fight.
“This will be one of the all-time great fights we see here in Australia, with two guys who do not want to take a backwards step,” said Lonergan. “I think it’ll be an all-out war. I think you’re going to see a lot of blood, a lot of gore. And you’re going to see some amazing boxing skills; it’ll be something special.”
