Jai Opetaia

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Tasman Fighters and Jai Opetaia have agreed to work with Matchroom as part of a global promotional partnership.

Opetaia (22-0 17 KOs) wrestled the IBF World Cruiserweight title away from Mairis Briedis on home turf with an outstanding display in Queensland, Australia in July 2022, outboxing the Latvian with a show of skill mixed with guts after breaking his jaw in both the second and final rounds.

The 28 year old extended his unbeaten slate to 22 fights in the paid ranks on that famous night, landing World title honors at the first attempt in a professional career that began in August 2015 after the imposing southpaw said goodbye to a glittering amateur stint that yielded gold in the World Junior Championships in 2011 and saw him become the youngest ever Australian Olympian fighter when he represented his country in at the 2012 Games in London.

Opetaia is determined to make more history with the goal of unifying the Cruiserweight division, and the IBF king is itching to get back into the ring and turn those dreams into reality with Matchroom.

“This is something that Tasman Fighters and myself have always worked towards and now I just want to start taking these big fights and unify all the titles,” said Opetaia.

Penning a deal with Opetaia sees another Australian star added to Hearn’s blossoming stable Down Under, with the world’s leading Cruiserweight joining the likes of Liam Paro, Stevie Spark, Ebanie Bridges and Skye Nicolson, and Hearn is excited to be able to plot big events in Australia following a successful first outing in Queensland in October – and with Matchroom joining forces with Tasman Fighters on Opetaia, fighters and fight fans alike in Australia are the big winners in the deal, with huge nights on the horizon.

“I am thrilled to welcome Jai to the Matchroom Boxing Team and delighted to be working closely once again with Tasman Fighters,” said Hearn. “Jai’s win over Briedis was an historic moment for Australian boxing and solidified him as the number one in the Cruiserweight division. There is no doubt that he can collect all the belts to become undisputed ruler and not just become a superstar at home, but all over the world.

“Australian boxing continues to rise and Matchroom want to be a major part of that growth, and with Jai joining our other Aussie stars, we look to returning there soon."

“The deal Tasman Fighters has struck with Matchroom is a massive opportunity for Jai Opetaia to move forward in his career on a global scale, it also opens the door for all of our contracted fighters and Australian boxing in general,” said Mick Francis, Company Director of Tasman Fighters. “Pathways for our athletes is something we consider is the key to developing boxing in this part of the world and with Matchroom it is finally a reality. We are looking forward to the future.”

[Redback Rasta]

Provided his jaw holds together, Opetaia can do some big things in this cruiserweight division and hopefully Matchroom can help secure him the right fights.

[maverick23]

Hopefully this gets him active.

Creates a headache for Shalom though. He supposedly got Masternak to pull out of the Opetaia fight allowing him to fight CBS instead. This then made Riakporhe mandatory for Opetaia.

It’s unlikely that Opetaia comes to the U.K. for Riakporhe unless Shalom wins a purse bid and we know he doesn’t like a purse bid.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hopefully this gets him active.

Creates a headache for Shalom though. He supposedly got Masternak to pull out of the Opetaia fight allowing him to fight CBS instead. This then made Riakporhe mandatory for Opetaia.

It’s unlikely that Opetaia comes to the U.K. for Riakporhe unless Shalom wins a purse bid and we know he doesn’t like a purse bid.

Neither does Hearn lol

[maverick23]

Hopefully this gets him active.

Creates a headache for Shalom though. He supposedly got Masternak to pull out of the Opetaia fight allowing him to fight CBS instead. This then made Riakporhe mandatory for Opetaia.

It’s unlikely that Opetaia comes to the U.K. for Riakporhe unless Shalom wins a purse bid and we know he doesn’t like a purse bid.

Neither does Hearn lol

Eddie loses a fair few on a purse bid but at least they tend not to pull people out of them.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hopefully this gets him active.

Creates a headache for Shalom though. He supposedly got Masternak to pull out of the Opetaia fight allowing him to fight CBS instead. This then made Riakporhe mandatory for Opetaia.

It’s unlikely that Opetaia comes to the U.K. for Riakporhe unless Shalom wins a purse bid and we know he doesn’t like a purse bid.

Neither does Hearn lol

Eddie loses a fair few on a purse bid but at least they tend not to pull people out of them.

Yeh he tries at least.

[jameswilson]

Just on purse bids I’m amazed how often there’s only 2 bidders for the mega fights.

Obviously Jai v Riakporh won’t attract extra bidders but Fury v Whyte for example, why wasn’t Boxxer or Sauerland bidding. They have enough contacts to line up UK tv.

I remember Barry Hearn winning the purse bid to Danny Williams v Herbie Hide that never happened.

I think Mick Hennessy may have won a bid where he didn’t promote either fighter too back in the early to mid 2000s.

[mickey1975]

Just on purse bids I’m amazed how often there’s only 2 bidders for the mega fights.

Obviously Jai v Riakporh won’t attract extra bidders but Fury v Whyte for example, why wasn’t Boxxer or Sauerland bidding. They have enough contacts to line up UK tv.

I remember Barry Hearn winning the purse bid to Danny Williams v Herbie Hide that never happened.

I think Mick Hennessy may have won a bid where he didn’t promote either fighter too back in the early to mid 2000s.

Fwank got Glen Johnson v Clinton Woods 3. Put it top of the bill in Bolton with a young Khan live on ITV. Great show.

[jwfg]

Jai Opetaia has signed with one of the two best promoters in the world, smart move.

[maverick23]

Just on purse bids I’m amazed how often there’s only 2 bidders for the mega fights.

Obviously Jai v Riakporh won’t attract extra bidders but Fury v Whyte for example, why wasn’t Boxxer or Sauerland bidding. They have enough contacts to line up UK tv.

I remember Barry Hearn winning the purse bid to Danny Williams v Herbie Hide that never happened.

I think Mick Hennessy may have won a bid where he didn’t promote either fighter too back in the early to mid 2000s.

They might do if they think they can get a fight that offers value for money for the network. Otherwise what’s the point? They’ll be promoting fighters who they may never have on their network again.

I think you have to pay to enter a purse bid. Not sure for every sanctioning body but you certainly have to for some of them. Also will need to spend time/effort pre planning the show to work out the value you can bid and then have someone physically attend the bids. Probably not worth it unless they think they can get a fight on the cheap.

Re: the the Whyte/Fury fight both Matchroom and Warren have the opportunity to not have to pay their fighter the full amount/%. I’m almost certain that Fury didn’t receive his full split per the purse bid but it increased the chance of Frank winning the bid. Obviously if Boxxer/Wasserman won the bid then they’d be on the hook for the full amount.

[Ruthless-RKO]

IBF have ordered a rematch against Briedis.

[gregregegg]

Really would like Jai to get a tune up to test the jaw out... Then unify, think he deserves it. but briedis rematch would be good, the first fight was great.

Billiam and riak dont want it... i wonder if frenchy would be interested in unifying.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Purse bids cancelled... looks like a deal will be made.

[jwfg]

Purse bids cancelled... looks like a deal will be made.

For Briedis?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Purse bids cancelled... looks like a deal will be made.

For Briedis?

yeh

[jwfg]

Purse bids cancelled... looks like a deal will be made.

For Briedis?

yeh

If he's still with Wasserman, it won't have been difficult to make. Should be a good fight,

[cormack]

IBF have ordered a rematch against Briedis.

good call
Briedis was unlucky not to get the stoppage first time - hell of a fight once it got going !

but its a shame we never got to see him vs okolie

[Redback Rasta]

It is not going to be Briedis.

The date will be September 30th and a likely voluntary defence against Jordon Thompson.

[Ruthless-RKO]

It is not going to be Briedis.

The date will be September 30th and a likely voluntary defence against Jordon Thompson.

In the UK I read.

[jwfg]

It is not going to be Briedis.

The date will be September 30th and a likely voluntary defence against Jordon Thompson.

Gotta feel for Jai, people ducking him left and right.

Jordon's a talented young guy, but he's going straight from the inside lane to the fast lane with no indicators. It's a massive ask.

[maverick23]

It is not going to be Briedis.

The date will be September 30th and a likely voluntary defence against Jordon Thompson.

Gotta feel for Jai, people ducking him left and right.

Jordon's a talented young guy, but he's going straight from the inside lane to the fast lane with no indicators. It's a massive ask.

Thompson’s not young so I get them not hanging around but even still it’s a massive step up.

Glad Opetaia is back out though after being messed around quite a bit. Assume Breidis is injured and the winner of Thompson/Opetaia is locked in to fight him.

[jameswilson]

Thompson got put down by Vasil Ducar and even tho he looked much improved against Watkins he got hit a hell of a lot. If he takes them shots vs Jai it will be an early bath surely?

[Ruthless-RKO]

[maverick23]

I haven’t seen anything formally announcing it. That’s not to say it won’t happen but think they’ve been a bit premature announcing it,

[Ruthless-RKO]

I haven’t seen anything formally announcing it. That’s not to say it won’t happen but think they’ve been a bit premature announcing it,

Yeh; there’s quite a few of these accounts that like to announce things quick.

More of a brag really.
“Oh we posted it first”