BoxRec

With both Masternak and Riakporhe having run away from the opportunity, the IBF have responded by calling for purse bids for Opetaia-Briedis II.

The first fight was a real battle of attrition. Here we go again.

I personaly think both should have tune ups. jai with a broken jaw and what will end up being 16ish months off, and breidis off a loss with 16ish months off.

If they both had fairly basic scraps in late September, and then fought in December i feel that would be ideal.

Negotiations almost completed?

According to Fat Dan, team Opetaia and team Briedis have appealed to the IBF to cancel the purse bid. Probably means negotiations are close to done and the purse bid won't be required. We should know soon enough.

Breidis had a strange exhibition thing lined up a few months ago but it disappeared off boxrec listings.

I am looking forward to this fight. I think we will see a stronger Briedis than in the last fight. I just wants to enjoy the fight. The better one shall win

Hearing Opetaia will now look to have a voluntary defence prior to a rematch with Briedis. Perhaps both wanted to have one and that is how the purse bid was circumvented?

Apparently Briedis is injured and the unbeaten Jordan Thompson is being mentioned as a possibility to be Opetaia's new challenger.

The IBF have ruled that should Opetaia defend successfully, he will fight Briedis next.

That’s 3 pull outs. After 3 pullouts the mando should be ticked off and the 3 that pulled out dropped from the rankings (injury pull outs not dropped, but you lose your turn)