The Gold Coast will host a world championship boxing fight with undefeated Australian-Samoan Jai Opetaia set to challenge IBF Cruiserweight champ Mairis Briedis.
The Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre in Carrara will host the bout.
The fight was made official today at a press conference hosted by D & L Events, however the reported date of April 6 is no longer, with Briedis sick with the flu after recently also having Covid.
The date is expected to be pushed back an estimated 3 or 4 weeks from the April 6 date.
The 37-year-old Briedis is the Ring Magazine number one ranked fighter and will come into the contest as the odds on favourite to retain his IBF title. The Latvian has a 28-1 professional record and last competed back in October, where he dispatched Artu Mann inside three rounds. His lone loss came at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk.
Opetaia qualified for the 2012 London Olympics as a heavyweight at the age of just 16. Although he was unable to pass the first round, the experience as an amateur has helped him in his pro career. Now aged 26, Opetaia sports a 21-0 professional record against predominantly local fighters.
Reports indicate that Justis Huni is expected to compete on the card. The heavyweight hasn’t competed since defeating Paul Gallen back in June 2021 where he suffered a
