‘I can win’: Australia’s Jai Opetaia gets shot at boxing world title

Boxing fans will be treated to the biggest fight on Australian soil in five years when Jai Opetaia gets his shot at a world title.

Jai Opetaia will fight for a world boxing title at the Gold Coast Sport and Leisure Centre. Jai Opetaia at his HOTA press conference. Picture Glenn Hampson

Australian boxing fans will be treated to their first world title fight in five years when Jai Opetaia gets a chance to claim a championship belt in the next couple of months.

On Wednesday it was announced the 25-year-old would take on IBF cruiserweight world champion Mairis Briedis.

The fight, which was rumoured to be scheduled for April 6, was supposed to be officially announced in a press conference on the Gold Coast.

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But the fight will delayed by “three or four weeks” after Briedis revealed he had tested positive to Covid.

The Latvian currently holds the IBF and The Ring belts, having previously held the WBC and WBO titles.

The 37-year-old is extremely experienced and has a 29-1 record, with his only loss coming against current heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in 2018.

Briedis had originally wanted to fight YouTuber Jake Paul with the hope of snaring a multimillion-dollar paycheck, and even resorted to getting his name tattooed on him in an attempt to grab his attention. But he will have to settle for the Australian instead.

Opetaia (21-0) is undefeated and has worked his way up in Australia to become the mandatory challenger to Briedis’ title.

Jai Opetaia will fight for the IBF cruiserweight world title.(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Mairis Briedis is a formidable opponent.

The Central Coast product will go into the fight as a heavy underdog but is relishing the opportunity to become a boxing world champion on home soil.

The world title fight will be the first to take place in Australia since Jeff Horn defeated Manny Pacquiao and Gary Corcoran in Brisbane in 2017.

The bout will be held on the Gold Coast and Opetaia is thrilled he finally has a shot at becoming world champion.

“We’ve been chasing these big fights for a long time now,” he said.

“I’ll always fly the blue flag when it’s State of Origin but Gold Coast is my new home now and I’m so happy to be here.

“I just know I belong up there with the big boys, I know I can win this fight, my whole life has come towards this fight.”

Jai Opetaia is ready for his shot at a world title. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Speaking via a pre-recorded message from Latvia, Briedis said he believed he could handle Opetaia, despite the 11-year age gap between the pair.

“I feel much more confident in my abilities and I feel like I’m 25,” he said.

“I’ll come to Australia to show my best.”

The blockbuster fight card will also feature rising Australian star Justis Huni, who will step into the ring for the first time since defeating former Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen last year.

Huni was due to compete as an amateur at the Tokyo Olympics but missed the Games after aggravating injuries in both his hands in the Gallen fight.