Jai Opetaia next fight: Mairis Briedis rematch confirmed for Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk undercard on May 18

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Mairis Briedis Jai Opetaia
(Matchroom Boxing)

Australia's Jai Opetaia (24-0) will rematch Mairis Briedis (28-2) in Saudi Arabia on the undercard of the undisputed heavyweight world title clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

Briedis was the man Opetaia dethroned to win the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight world titles in July 2022, famously overcoming a badly broken jaw to secure the unanimous decision victory.

The rematch was confirmed in London earlier this year and was set to take place on February 17, before a cut suffered by Fury in training forced the entire event to be postponed.

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Latvia's Briedis hasn't fought since losing to Opetaia, while the 28-year-old Australian is coming off back-to-back knockout victories over Jordan Thompson and Ellis Zorro, the latter coming in the first round back in December.

Prior to his bout with Zorro, Opetaia vacated the IBF title, ironically under the threat of being stripped for not facing Briedis.

The pair are set to fight for the vacant IBF strap, while Opetaia's Ring belt will also be on the line.

Now 39, three-time world champion Briedis is looking to make one last run at 200-pound gold, while Opetaia is hoping to put to bed any doubts about his place at the top of the division's pecking order.

Opetaia versus Briedis II is set to be the chief support to the heavyweight title blockbuster.

Other fights announced for the card include an IBF super featherweight title clash between Joe Cordina and Anthony Cacace as well as the return of former unified light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev.

Rising English heavyweight Moses Itauma will also be in action, as will Kiwi Olympic medallist, David Nyika, taking on Ilja Mezenvev and Michael Seitz, respectively.

Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk fight card

Bouts and order subject to change.

  • Tyson Fury (c) vs. Oleksandr Usyk (c) for the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles
  • Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis for the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles
  • Joe Cordina (c) vs. Anthony Cacace for IBF super featherweight title
  • Agit Kabayel vs. Frank Sanchez; heavyweight
  • Sergey Kovalev vs. Robin Sirwan Safar; cruiserweight
  • Mark Chamberlain vs. Joshua Oluwaseun Wahab; lightweight
  • Moses Itauma vs. Ilja Mezencev; heavyweight
  • David Nyika vs. Michael Seitz; cruiserweight
  • Isaac Lowe vs. Hasibullah Ahmadi; featherweight
Author(s)
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Tom Naghten is a senior editor for The Sporting News Australia.
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