Boxing 2022: Jai Opetaia defeats Mairis Briedis to secure IBF cruiserweight world title

This is the image that has seen Jai Opetaia compared to Muhammad Ali after producing one of the most heroic moments in Australian sporting history.

An emotional Jai Opetaia soaks in his remarkable, gutsy victory. Picture: Getty

This is the image that has seen Jai Opetaia compared to Muhammad Ali after producing one of the most heroic moments in Australian sporting history.

In a remarkable display of boxing bravery, Opetaia became Australia’s newest world champion on Saturday night after fighting with a broken jaw for 10 rounds to defeat IBF cruiserweight king Mairis Briedis on the Gold Coast.

As Opetaia underwent surgery on Sunday night, News Corp has obtained X-ray images of his battered face.

Two distinct breaks on either side of Opetaia’s lower jawline can be seen, with the Australian unable to bite down on his mouthguard in the final round as his shattered jaw rattled from side to side with every punch.

An emotional Jai Opetaia soaks in his remarkable, gutsy victory. Picture: Getty

In rugby league, Souths legend John Sattler famously played 77 minutes with a broken jaw in the 1970 grand final, while British enforcer Sam Burgess survived 79 minutes with a fractured cheekbone to lead the Rabbitohs to the 2014 premiership.

Now Opetaia is Australian boxing’s Broken Jaw Hero - almost 50 years after the great Ali had his jaw broken in the first round of his split-decision loss to Ken Norton in San Diego in 1973.

“I believe this is up there with the toughest, most incredible moments in Australian sport,” said Opetaia’s promoter Dean Lonergan.

“It’s without doubt the toughest moment in Australian boxing.

“Jeff Horn was so tough the day he beat Manny Pacquiao and Jeff Fenech fought with broken hands, but what this kid has gone through - fighting with a broken jaw for 10 rounds and beating the No.1 cruiserweight in the world - it is the pinnacle for me.

“John Sattler is revered in Australian sport folklore for playing a grand final with a broken jaw and now Jai is up there with him.

“In fact, I would say it’s even braver because unlike Sattler, Jai had an opponent in his face trying to break the other side of his jaw with direct punches.

Opetaia faces a lengthy recovery from the injuries sustained in his incredible win. Picture: Getty

“Jai fought five years with a broken hand, then broke his ribs two months ago in the lead-up to this fight and now this ... he is the toughest boxer on the planet.”

Opetaia was left speechless, literally, following his unanimous decision victory over the equally heroic Briedis (28-2, 20KO), who has previously only lost to Ukraine superstar Oleksandr Usyk.

“I can’t talk man,” mumbled Opetaia.

“I’ve done it man, been through it bro. It paid off.”

Lonergan revealed Opetaia suffered his first break in the second round, before sustaining a second fracture to the other side of his jaw in round six.

The injury only became clear in the final round when blood began streaming from Opetaia’s mouth.

X-ray of the broken jaw.

“He lost all control of his jaw in round 12,” Lonergan said.

“He lost his mouthguard because he couldn’t bite down on it. Jai told me the pain was excruciating - his jaw was flopping around.

“Jai was saying to me he felt his jaw move from side to side with every punch. It was beyond belief.

“Briedis was a bloody mess after the fight and Jai was in hospital. It was the war they predicted.

“Jai will have a two-or-three hour operation, he will have his jaw wired and be drinking fluids for the next two months.

“This was a breakout fight for Jai ... he went to the ultimate lengths to become a world champion.”

Opetaia went to war with Mairis Briedis, and came away with a world title. Picture: Getty

Ringside doctor Ben Manion revealed Opetaia could be sidelined for up to five months.

“(With) bones you get about 80 per cent strength back after about eight weeks so he’ll probably be able to lightly train after that time,” he said.

“It will be three, four, five months (until he can fight again).

“One of the guys asked does it normally break on both sides after it’s broken on one side and I said, ‘People don’t normally compete after that time’.”

A magnanimous Briedis later entered Opetaia’s dressing room to congratulate the new king of Australian boxing. He then asked the 27-year-old for a rematch.

Lonergan’s response was emphatic.

“There will be no re-match,” he said. “I will not put Jai in the ring with a beast like Briedis ever again.”

Opetaia has been labelled ‘the toughest athlete in Australia’ following the fight. Picture: Getty

OPETAIA KING OF THE WORLD AFTER BRUTAL BATTLE

Exactly five years to the day Jeff Horn put Australian boxing back on the map with his upset win over Manny Pacquiao, Jai Opetaia pounded Latvian heavy-hitter Mairis Briedis into a bloody pulp and signalled his arrival to the world stage.

Opetaia promised his legacy would begin by ending Briedis’ reign and his crystal ball call came true Saturday night on the Gold Coast.

The 27-year-old southpaw from the Central Coast is now the toast of Australian boxing after taking the IBF cruiserweight world title out of the hands of Briedis (28-2, 20KO), whose only blemish prior came to Ukrainian unified heavyweight world champion, Oleksander Usyk, in 2018.

Opetaia turned Briedis’ face into a bloody mess and heralded in a new and exciting era of Australian boxing. He promised a chess match and looked every bit a young Grand Master in front of a vocal home crowd on the Glitter Strip, fighting to both the Australian and Samoan national anthems.

Jai Opetaia scored the biggest win of his career against Mairis Briedis. Picture: Peter Wallis/Getty Images

A right uppercut approaching the end of the fourth round was the momentum swing Opetaia ultimately rode to victory, claiming a unanimous (116-112, 115-113, 116-112) points decision.

On the anniversary of Horn’s heroics - and with The Hornet and Justis Huni ringside - Opetaia (22-0, 17KO) defied the odds and solidified his standing as Australian boxing’s next big thing with a masterful display at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Paul Gallen labelled him the “slickest, fastest, hardest-to-hit guy I have ever sparred” and Opetaia made good on those words as he dodged and danced around his 37-year-old opponent’s punches.

Briedis’ corner claimed there was no preparing for the Latvian because “Mairis is different in every single fight”. And this one was different - because he lost.

A cagey start blossomed into the third round, when an Opetaia jab that glanced across the nose of Briedis brought the crowd into the Aussie’s corner. When Briedis grappled and sent a hook to the back of Opetaia’s head it only earned him the referee’s ire – and the wrath of the crowd.

The stands continued to rock into round four and when Opetaia landed a telling right uppercut that drew blood from Briedis’ nose it reached a fever pitch. Blood spilt over the Latvian’s chest and down the right-arm of Opetaia, who paid no heed as he pressed and punched his favoured opponent into a pulp.

Jai Opetaia won a brutal battle against Mairis Briedis. Picture: Peter Wallis/Getty Images

With his nose bloodied and breath labouring, Briedis lent further into his heavy haymakers looking to end the fight early. But for as much as the crowd urged the Aussie to go for the telling blow he remained calm.

Briedis showed all of his guile and experience to work his way back into the fight through the middle rounds, and with 20 seconds to go in the ninth a heavy right-hand jab hit home.

But it was early in the tenth that Briedis dealt the telling blow, with the same right-hand uppercut that had Opetaia on the front foot taking the Aussie’s legs out late-on.

Sensing he had the younger man’s measure Briedis pressed for the knockout blow but Opetaia found the bell and with it his legs.

As the final round ticked down Opetaia’s face split open and the two bloodied warriors sent their final hopeful haymakers for naught, with a judges’ decision the fitting – if not slightly unsatisfactory – ending to a brutal and brilliant fight.

Expected to pocket a six-figure purse, avid fisherman Opetaia can wet a line on a brand new boat as he ponders his crowning moment, and what might come next.

Jai Opetaia scored a unanimous points decision over Mairis Briedis. Picture: Peter Wallis/Getty Images

Earlier, Caboolture’s Issac Hardman said he had no point to prove but did all he could to silence the doubters with a brutal KO of Beau Hartas in the penultimate bout on Saturday night.

Clutching two VB tins as his opponent was wheeled away following a devastating opening round KO, Hardman urged fans to get back “on the train” after backing up in emphatic fashion from his loss to Michael Zerafa in April.

Darryl Braithwaite had earlier opened the AFL at Metricon Stadium as the Gold Coast Suns went down to Collingwood in a thriller - but ‘Horses’ proved a winning anthem for Hardman, who serenaded the crowd as he entered the ring before landing the right hook that floored Hartas for 2-3 minutes.

TOUGHER THAN TYSON: FENECH’S SHOCK CALL ON AUSSIE BOXER

Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech says Jai Opetaia is the toughest, most skilled big man he has ever seen.

Opetaia turned 27 on Thursday celebrated the ultimate birthday gift by beating Latvian cruiserweight king Mairis Briedis in their IBF world-title blockbuster at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Before the fight, Fenech, a three-division world champion, warned Briedis (28-1, 20KO) to prepare for Opetaia (21-0, 17KO) to steal his belt and replace George Kambosos as the new kingpin of Australian boxing.

Incredibly, in Opetaia’s seven-year professional career, Fenech claims the classy southpaw has never been dropped. He believes no cruiserweight or heavyweight in world boxing possesses Opetaia’s toughness or skill.

Latvian champion Mairis Briedis (left) and Jai Opetaia will fight for the IBF cruiserweight world title on Saturday night on the Gold Coast.

“I am tipping a massive boilover. Jai will shock the world,” Fenech said.

“Briedis is very strong and a world champion, but he is going to be in for a shock — he will be hit from angles he has never been hit from before.

“Jai can beat anybody, he has the most amazing skill set I have ever seen in a big fella.

“I remember the first time I saw Jai, I couldn’t believe what I was watching. I thought, ‘Oh my god, wow’.

“He has hand speed. He has movement. He has boxing intellect. He is the complete fighter.

“Jai is fighting the best cruiserweight in the world, but I believe this is his moment and he will be Australia’s next world champion on Saturday night.”

For all the hype surrounding Opetaia, Briedis is truly world class. The 37-year-old has lost just once in his 13-year professional career — a narrow majority-points defeat to Ukraine superstar Oleksandr Usyk, the current heavyweight champion of the world.

The barrel-chested Briedis is a powerhouse, but Fenech believes Opetaia has the chin to absorb any punch.

“I have never seen anyone with a chin like Jai’s,” he said.

“I have watched him spar guys 20 kilos heavier, they whack him and he has never been hurt. Jai has never been dropped in sparring, let alone in a fight.

Jeff Fenech holds the pads for Mike Tyson.

“I believe it will go the distance because Briedis is a very powerful guy, but Jai will win on points. This is a massive fight and a huge task but if there is one fighter I would choose for this task, it‘s Jai. He will do the job.”

Opetaia, who suffered fractured ribs in sparring in April, came face-to-face with Briedis on Thursday and says his true weapon is not toughness or skill, but an unbreakable desire to conquer the world.

“I am humbled by what Jeff has said,” Opetaia said. “He did a lot for me at the start of my career. I learnt so much from him and for Jeff Fenech, being such a tough guy, to say I’m tough is the ultimate compliment.

“I have done my apprenticeship and come July 2 I will be certified (as world champion).

“I know how tough Briedis is. I am ready for the deep waters and earn this belt. I am not going in there thinking it will be easy.

“It will be a war and I‘m up for it. He won’t match my hunger. I will get it done.”

Originally published as Boxing 2022: Jai Opetaia defeats Mairis Briedis to secure IBF cruiserweight world title