Mairis Briedis vs. Jai Opetaia | Wasserman - July 2, 2022

[joshj909]

I've not watched this but crazy upset. Is it one worth watching back or just the highlights?

[Dioufy]

Loving the cameras in the changing rooms. That has is well and truly fucked; reminds me of Arthur Abraham’s v Bika.
Jai has everything. Skills, power (he badly buzzed MB in the 2nd), guts, chin the lot.
Interesting to see how long he’s out with that jaw.

[Dioufy]

I've not watched this but crazy upset. Is it one worth watching back or just the highlights?

Tremendous fight! Watch it all!

[margaret thatcher]

I've not watched this but crazy upset. Is it one worth watching back or just the highlights?

well knowing the result it takes out a lot of the fun imo, becausse it looked to me like briedis had a real chance of coming back and stopping him, or at least dropping him to possibly get a decision

live it was excellent. not so much for the action (there was plenty, but it wasnt non stop and the first 6 wasnt too competitive), but because of the second half drama. the shot of the bell ringing with jai's jaw hanging by his knees was something

[Spud]

Was it controversial or did OP clearly win?

[margaret thatcher]

Was it controversial or did OP clearly win?

well deserved, possibly it could have been a draw if someone gave MB every swing round, but easier for me to see jai getting it

basically jai had about 6 clear rounds, briedis 4. so i cant really see briedis winning. 116-112 to 114-114 at closest. in the last minute it looked like he might possibly stop or drop jai but alas he didnt

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jai Opetaia Outboxes Mairis Briedis, Claims Cruiserweight Championship In Upset

Jai Opetaia once again made history for Australia.

A changing of the guard came with Saturday's cruiserweight championship fight, as Australia's Opetaia earned an upset win over defending lineal/IBF king Mairis Brieidis. Judges John Basile (116-112), Steve Weisfeld (116-112) and Katsuhiko Nakamura (115-113) all scored in favor of Opetaia, who overcame a broken jaw to pull off the upset Saturday evening at Gold Coast Convention Centre in the Gold Coast suburb of Broadbeach, Australia.

With the win, Opetaia adds a world championship to a national crown in a stellar amateur that included his becoming Australia's youngest-ever Olympian at age 16 in 2012 London.

Opetaia showed poise, not allowing himself to get overwhelmed by the moment of fighting for his first major title. Briedis landed the more telling blows in the opening round, particularly with his right hand that got the attention of his unbeaten challenger. The defending champion was forced to contend with early adversity, as a cut developed over his right eye.

Ever the professional, Briedis quickly adjusted in round two. Several right hands found their way over the top of Opetaia's high guard, forcing the challenger to frequently clinch. Opetaia gained confidence as the round progressed, boxing on his toes and finding a home for his left hand. Briedis managed an uppercut which was discovered to have broken Opetaia's jaw.

Opetaia stood his ground and successfully went punch for punch with the heavier-handed Briedis in round three. Briedis connected with a right hand early in the frame, only for Opetaia to respond with a flush left. Briedis continued to find himself on the defensive, as Opetaia landed a right hook and later with straight left hands. Briedis flurried in the closing seconds, including a right uppercut that found its mark.

Briedis came out to a more aggressive start in round four, though largely ineffective. The champion missed with a straight right hand as Opetaia continued to box well. Opetaia moved into position to land a left hand, then boxed from the outside to avoid Briedis' jab. The best was saved for the final 30 seconds, as Opetaia crashed home an uppercut that bloodied the nose of Briedis and left him dazed to the point of heading to wrong corner at round's end.

Blood was pouring from the nose of Briedis from the end of round four throughout the fifth, which saw Opetaia well in control and repeatedly land clean combinations. The 27-year old Australian southpaw was clinical with his right jab and straight left down the middle, with Briedis unable to adjust.

Opetaia dialed up the pressure in round six, forcing Briedis to wince in pain from a body shot. Briedis enjoyed occasional but singular moments of success with his right hand, though almost always met with left hand counters from the challenger whose confidence grew as did his lead.

The second half opened with Briedis claiming a much-needed momentum shift. Opetaia showed the first signs of slowing down, displaying a sturdy chin as Briedis dug deep to land right hands but unable to deliver a sustained attack against the fleet-footed challenger.

Briedis picked up the pace to the best of his ability in round eight. Opetaia boxed and moved to minimize the impact of Briedis' power shots, successfully countering but also urged by his corner to avoid trading punches with the still dangerous champion.

Opetaia heeded the advice, reestablishing his left hand with a presence in round nine. Briedis continued to come forward in stalker mode but was consistently beaten to the punch. It changed in the final 30 seconds, when Opetaia's head snapped back following a clean right hand by Briedis.

The late surge served as a major wakeup call. Opetaia attempted to assert himself but nearly paid the price as he was rocked by an uppercut. Briedis poured on the attack, walking through an Opetaia left hand to repeatedly hurt the crowd favorite with power shots on the inside.

Briedis reached down deep in the final two rounds, though at a point where Opetaia also rediscovered his swagger. A right hand by Briedis once again snapped back the head of Opetaia, who'd landed several right hands preceding the change in tide midway through the round. Briedis shook off a straight left to land a long right hand, also catching Opetaia with a right uppercut near the end of the round.

Opetaia wisely boxed from the outside in his best effort to run out the clock in the twelfth and final round. Briedis closed the gap and emptied his reserves in his best effort to not allow the fight to go to the scorecards. Opetaia was forced to fend off a last ditch surge by Briedis, who left the challenger pinned along the ropes in the final 20 seconds but ultimately ran out of time.

Opetaia made national headlines in becoming the youngest Australian ever to box in the Olympics, representing his country in 2012 London. His pro career hadn't quite measured up to his amateur accolades, though managing to make his way to the mandatory contender position in the IBF cruiserweight rankings.

He brought it altogether when it mattered the most, pulling off perhaps the biggest win on Australian soil since Jeff Horn's upset win over the legendary Manny Pacquiao five years ago almost to the day.

[gregregegg]

kinda sucks that after achiving your life goal you gotta soak it in with your jaw swinging in the breeze.

[cormack]

wonder if there is a rematch clause ...

[Spud]

wonder if there is a rematch clause ...

Channel 5 wont pay the money.

Eddie might do a deal if the winner meets Okolie

[Ruthless-RKO]

MB did well in the 2nd half..

Let's see how Jai matches up though..

Take nothing away from the win, Jai did what he had to.. Briedis is known for his performances at times..

Let's see what Jai does from this.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Apparently Briedis was paid just shyt of $1m and Jai's purse was in the 6 figures..

[joshj909]

I've not watched this but crazy upset. Is it one worth watching back or just the highlights?

well knowing the result it takes out a lot of the fun imo, becausse it looked to me like briedis had a real chance of coming back and stopping him, or at least dropping him to possibly get a decision

live it was excellent. not so much for the action (there was plenty, but it wasnt non stop and the first 6 wasnt too competitive), but because of the second half drama. the shot of the bell ringing with jai's jaw hanging by his knees was something

I've not watched this but crazy upset. Is it one worth watching back or just the highlights?

Tremendous fight! Watch it all!

Thanks both. Will give it a watch in the morning. Might have forgotten the result by then depending on my night. A big upset which isn't a robbery or a flash knockout is usually somewhat intriguing to watch.

[gregregegg]

jaw stickytapped back together, Bigggg rest, jason whateley type tune up defence in the first half of 2023, Makabu or frenchy 2nd half of 2023. Thats what he probably should, and probably will do i think. Dont expect to see jai in a fight you want to see within the next 12 months.

[margaret thatcher]

if there's no rematch clause, would seem the path

if briedis has one......he may be up for another fight given that he had jai hanging on at the end

[bobcatbox]

jaw stickytapped back together, Bigggg rest, jason whateley type tune up defence in the first half of 2023, Makabu or frenchy 2nd half of 2023. Thats what he probably should, and probably will do i think. Dont expect to see jai in a fight you want to see within the next 12 months.

That’s the kind of fight that neither man walks away from the same ever again. No big knockdowns or drama but they hurt each other severely in there.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jai showed good chin

[margaret thatcher]

he did, got hurt a few times but legs were there and recovered pretty well. also showed good survival skills when briedis hurt him with that uppercut in the 10th

although i thought briedis handled that poorly, after he landed that shot he spent the rest of the round looking just for that one shot again, rather than mixing up his punches

[Ruthless-RKO]

Jai has a leaky defence..

It's good that your chin is solid..

He does need to work on his defence.

[margaret thatcher]

his D was on point the first 6, with his speed and movement he hardly got hit

second half he got hit a lot more......starting with the right hand that rocked him a bit in the 7th

i thought jai was almost done the last round and took a bit of a pounding in that one, but i notice some actually scored the 12th for him. maybe he wasnt in as bad a state as i thought...will take another look some time.

[Ruthless-RKO]

What time did the fight start in Aus?

Seems quite late..

I know Kiwi said it was 2am in NZ.

[margaret thatcher]

on 2nd viewing........it was an evenish round for 2:15 but he did get beaten up the last 45 or so, had a spell on the ropes where looked in serious trouble

[margaret thatcher]

well fight was about 45 minutes with round breaks, and been over about an hour..........

12:47 now. so must've started around 10:30- 10:45ish?

[Ruthless-RKO]

well fight was about 45 minutes with round breaks, and been over about an hour..........

12:47 now. so must've started around 10:30- 10:45ish?

Doesn't seem too bad..

anthems probably didn't help.

[cormack]

wonder if there is a rematch clause ...

Channel 5 wont pay the money.

Eddie might do a deal if the winner meets Okolie

Matchroom just opened in OZ .. maybe