Boxing news: Justis Huni set to fight against Mairis Briedis

The Latvian monster who broke Jai Opetaia’s jaw in two places is coming to Australia for a blockbuster fight against heavyweight hero Justis Huni.

Australia’s heavyweight golden boy Justis Huni is on the verge of the biggest fight of his career — against the Latvian “beast” who recently broke Jai Opetaia’s jaw in their world-title bloodbath.

News Corp can reveal Huni is poised to take on three-time cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis, who will step up to heavyweight for a proposed bout at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena on October 29.

Briedis has verbally agreed to fight Huni.

Latvian cruiserweight king Mairis Briedis (left) is returning to Australia to fight Justis Huni after his epic world-title loss to Jai Opetaia in July.

The parties are now in the final stage of negotiations to formalise the heavyweight blockbuster as Briedis seeks revenge for his world-title loss to Opetaia last month by attempting to bash his stablemate.

The fight has major ramifications for the Brisbane-born Huni.

If the undefeated Huni (6-0, 4KO) beats Briedis (28-2, 20KO), he will surge up the world rankings with a victory that his promoter, Dean Lonergan, believes would put the 23-year-old in serious contention for a maiden world-title shot.

Since turning professional in October 2020, Huni has cleaned out the domestic scene — he demolished Joe Goodall in June — and Lonergan says the classy ‘JPH’ is ready to bring down Briedis.

“This is the big time,” Lonergan said.

“Mairis has agreed to fight Justis and he will be moving up to heavyweight to make it happen.

Huni (left) is looking to emulate his stablemate Opetaia by winning a world title.

“I expect to have the deal done in the next three or four days.

“Justis is entering world-class territory by fighting a beast like Briedis.

“He is a young thoroughbred wanting a gallop against the best in the world and he is ready for this.

“Justis is the golden boy of Australian boxing and if he beats Briedis, a world-title shot is on the horizon for him.”

Even at 37, Briedis is a dangerous opponent.

The hard-as-nails Latvian has never been stopped and lost just twice in his career, to current heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in 2018 and, most recently, to Huni’s good mate Opetaia on the Gold Coast in July.

While he lost his IBF cruiserweight title to Opetaia, Briedis broke the Australian’s jaw in two places with savage blows and will back his power to drop Huni.

Opetaia suffered a broken jaw in two places after copping savage blows from Briedis.

“This is a massive fight for Justis. He is too good for the domestic scene and he is ready for an international opponent,” Lonergan said.

“I’ve spoken to the IBF and it looks like Mairis will be ranked in the top 10 (in the heavyweight division) because he was a three-time world champion at cruiserweight.

“I expect Briedis to be ranked from five to seven and that is the exciting part, because if Justis beats Briedis, he flies up the world rankings.

“We’ve always felt Justis has the tools to challenge for a world title and if he keeps winning, a world-title opportunity is about 18 months away.

“Justis’ father and trainer Rocki is confident he will beat Briedis. He is bigger and faster than Briedis and while Briedis has great toughness and courage, he doesn’t have Justis’ skill.

“It will be a cracking contest.”

Originally published as Boxing news: Justis Huni set to fight against Mairis Briedis