Jai Opetaia

Jai Opetaia is the reigning IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight champion, widely regarded as the most elite operator in his division.

As an amateur, the Australian became a three-time National Champion while also entering the London 2012 Olympics as a heavyweight hopeful. Despite losing his opening bout at the Games, Opetaia made several more appearances in international tournaments, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games, before turning professional in 2015.

After amassing 15 victories, Opetaia began to consider whether his future in professional boxing was sustainable. With financial struggles looming over him, an early retirement from the sport soon became a daunting possibility.

However, it was not long before his fortune changed, as after climbing his way up the rankings to earn a mandatory position with the IBF, Opetaia was presented with his first world title shot against cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis. The pair squared off at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, Australia, in 2022, with Opetaia entering their showdown as a sizable underdog.

Nevertheless, the unbeaten challenger produced a performance worthy of the boxing world’s full respect. After suffering two breaks to his jaw in only the second round, he swiftly began to take control of the fight, suppressing the excruciating pain to claim a unanimous decision victory.

After showcasing his tremendous bravery, Opetaia made the first defence of his titles against previously unbeaten contender Jordan Thompson, securing a stunning fourth-round stoppage over the Brit. Later that year, he entered the first of three outings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, despite having been stripped of his IBF title after failing to fulfil his mandatory obligation against Briedis.

Still, the ruthless finisher produced an emphatic first-round stoppage victory over Ellis Zorro before reclaiming his vacant strap in 2024, outpointing Briedis once again, to resume his ascendency. Now, coming off a sixth-round stoppage win over Jack Massey, Opetaia is gearing up to take on unbeaten New Zealander David Nyika in his 27th professional contest.

Mairis Briedis I

Jai Opetaia entered his first world title bout against Mairis Briedis in 2022, and despite fighting on home soil at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Queensland, Australia, the mandatory challenger was widely considered to be an almighty underdog.

Briedis, meanwhile, had dethroned Yuniel Dorticos with a unanimous decision victory to claim the IBF cruiserweight title just over two years after his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk. Nevertheless, Opetaia swiftly proved his quality on the world stage, suffering two breaks to his jaw in only the second round before outpointing the formidable Latvian.

Mairis Briedis II

The pair then squared off for their rematch in 2024. This time, though, Opetaia was looking to reclaim his IBF strap in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after vacating the belt when Briedis was originally ordered as his mandatory challenger.

Once again, the Australian got off to a flying start, catching his opponent with a series of clean combinations before losing momentum down the stretch. It was during the championship rounds when Briedis began to assert a degree of control, but by that point, Opetaia had already done enough to claim another unanimous decision victory.

Tapu Opetaia

Opetaia has reunited with his father, Tapu Opetaia, who had coached him until early 2022, before his first victory over Briedis. The pair’s fighter-trainer relationship was briefly put on hold while Opetaia began to work with renowned Australian coach Mark Wilson.

But after cornering four championship victories, Wilson announced in August 2024 that he had made the decision to step away from world-level professional boxing. Instead, Opetaia will now work alongside his father moving forward.