Jai Opetaia has already proven himself against Mairis Briedis but he must do it again if he's to become world champion for a second time.
Opetaia was stripped of his crown when he fought Ellis Zorro in December and now he has the chance to win it back against the man he defeated to become champion back in 2022.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis.
When is Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis?
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Date: Saturday, May 18
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Main event ringwalks (approx): 11 p.m. UK / 6 p.m. ET
The fight night will start around 5 p.m. UK / 12 p.m. ET, with the main event approximately beginning at 11 p.m. UK / 6 p.m. ET. Opetaia vs. Briedis is likely to begin at 10 p.m. UK / 5 p.m. ET but the details will be confirmed closer to the date.
“To be honest, I don’t even think about it,” Opetaia said in an interview with BoxingScene. “I’m not thinking about him. I’m preparing for the best version of Briedis. I’m not taking him lightly. I’m expecting him to come out guns blazing, so I’ve been training very hard and we just focus on our own camp and our own performance.”
“Besides boxing, I’m never really serious, you just ask my missus,” he said. “I’m just a normal person who likes to have fun, who enjoys the little things but when it comes down to work, I like to work. I don’t like to waste time when it comes to important things. If we’re going to do something, we’re going to do it properly. But if you give me a weekend off, ‘See you later!’”
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