Australian fighter Jai Opetaia has won the vacant IBF cruiserweight title following a bloody 12-round bout with Mairis Briedis.
Opetaia reclaimed the title, which was stripped from him last year, with a unanimous decision 117-111, 116-112, 116-112.
The Australian was dominant for the first half of the fight, before Briedis made a stirring comeback to rock the Australian multiple times.
Opetaia was stripped of the belt last year after taking a big payday fight in Saudi Arabia.
The former champ was dominant in the opening six rounds, before his 39-year-old Latvian opponent wound back the clock to produce a tremendous fight back.
"We knew we were in for a tough fight. I said it [through] the whole lead-up," Opetaia said.
"We were ready for 12 rounds of war, and that's what we got."
The Australian said the turning point that led to Briedis's fight back was a head clash, which he claimed broke his nose.
After that, he said the Latvian nailed him with a few shots which hurt.
"Mairis Briedis, I'm honoured to share the ring with a champion like that," Opetaia said.
"I idolised this guy … to be here and share the ring with him, he's a true warrior."
The victory moves Opetaia's record to 25-0 (19KO) and is the second time he has defeated Briedis.
The fight was the co-main event before Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
Story By: Michael Doyle
Original Story link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-19/jai-opetaia-wins-ibf-cruiserweight-title/103866410
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