Boxing news: Jai Opetaia gets world title shot against Mairis Briedis after Jake Paul snub

Australia will host its first world title fight since 2017 when the undefeated Jai Opetaia takes on a controversial cruiserweight king in April.

Jake Paul. Picture: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Jai Opetaia has trumped Jake Paul.

Opetaia has secured his first shot at a world title, with IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis agreeing to defend his belt in Australia on April 6, and national heavyweight champion Justis Huni will feature on the same card.

Briedis raised eyebrows throughout the boxing world recently when he got a tattoo and made a rap song in a desperate attempt to get a multimillion-dollar fight against YouTube star Paul, who claimed he had never heard of the Latvian slugger.

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Justis Huni and Jai Opetaia will feature on the same card on April 6. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Now, Briedis has finally relented on that pursuit and will give mandatory challenger Opetaia a shot at his crown in the Aussie’s backyard.

This will be the first world title fight held in Australia since 2017, when Jeff Horn successfully defended his WBO welterweight belt against Gary Corcoran.

Dean Lonergan, who promoted that Horn fight, is also promoting Briedis-Opetaia and revealed that these negotiations had taken four months due to the particular demands of Briedis’ management company Wasserman – a multibillion-dollar sport and entertainment behemoth that looks after music superstars Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and Billie Eilish, as well as athletes Russell Westbrook, Jamie Vardy and Katie Ledecky.

IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis is set to defend his world title against Jai Opetaia in Australia.

Boxing champion Mairis Briedis went to great lengths to secure a fight against YouTube star Jake Paul, including getting his tattoo in his thigh saying 'Jake's Bad Karma'.

“Before Horn fought Corcoran, I brought Manny Pacquiao to Australia to fight Horn and I can tell you this fight between Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis was far more complex to negotiate than Pacquiao-Horn,” Lonergan said.

“The level of detail in the contracts are nothing short of incredible, but that’s what happens when you’re dealing with a company that has the scale and power of Wasserman.

“I was never concerned that Briedis would fight Jake Paul instead because Paul doesn’t fight real boxers. If Jake Paul took that fight it would be a very short night for him – Briedis has never been off his feet and wins most of his fights by knockout.”

In fact, Briedis has a brilliant record of 28-1 with 20 knockouts. His only loss was a close majority decision to undefeated superstar Oleksandr Usyk, who went from unified cruiserweight champion to now heavyweight champion after beating Anthony Joshua.

YouTube star Jake Paul. Picture: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Briedis, 37, has no fear fighting on the road; he’s racked up important victories in the USA, England, Germany and Greece during his illustrious career and he will be the overwhelming favourite against 26-year-old Opetaia.

Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Newcastle are all in contention to host the event, and with Huni’s addition to the card it will be a huge doubler-header.

However, this is certainly Opetaia’s big break and the Central Coast boxer has a chance to show he can fulfil his immense potential, having been picked as Australia’s youngest Olympic boxer when selected for the 2012 London Games.

Opetaia spent five years boxing with a broken hand before having surgery to fix it with four metal pins. He remains undefeated with a record of 21-0 (17KO).

Jai Opetaia will finally get his title shot in April. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“Jai has to win this fight,” Lonergan said.

“His whole world will change if he becomes world champion.

“Our first defence would be against an Australian, likely Jason Whateley (9-0, 8KO) who is from Victoria, and within two or three fights we could easily move him up to heavyweight.

“If you’re the cruiserweight world champion, you go to the No.1 or No.2 position if you step up to heavyweight and there are massive fights there.

“And Canelo [Saul Alvarez] has talked about stepping up to cruiserweight so there are potentially massive opportunities down the road for Jai should he defeat Briedis.”

Originally published as Boxing news: Jai Opetaia gets world title shot against Mairis Briedis after Jake Paul snub