Jai Opetaia v Mairis Briedis 2 - Tale of the Tape: Weight, height, reach, trainer & professional boxing records

We analyse the credentials and statistics of Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis as the two cruiserweight rivals get set to reacquaint themselves for a second time on the undercard of Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk in May.

Jai Opetaia shocked the boxing world when he toppled Mairis Briedis in July 2022.

Their Fight of the Year contender ended with Opetaia deservedly winning the IBF cruiserweight title by unanimous decision in Australia. It was an injection of new blood into a division which had relied on guys like Briedis for too long.

Opetaia’s life since then has been something of a rollercoaster, but crucially he got back to boxing in 2023 - notching up two wins while Briedis has gone two years without a fight.

Their rematch is long overdue and is an excellent addition to the undercard of the mammoth undisputed heavyweight showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, on May 18, in Saudi Arabia.

Will Opetaia reclaim the now vacant IBF cruiserweight title or can Latvia’s Briedis become a world champion for a third time.

It's time to take a look at the 'Tale of the Tape'…
 

Jai Opetaia v Mairis Briedis 2
Tale of the Tape

	Jai Opetaia	Mairis Briedis
Odds:	1/6	4/1
Age:	28	39
Nickname:	N/A	N/A
Height:	6ft 2ins	6ft 1ins
Reach:	76ins	75ins
Weight:	Cruiserweight	Cruiserweight
Trainer:	Mark Wilson	N/A
Record:	24-0 (19 KOs)	28-2 (20 KOs)
Last Fight:	Won - (KO) v Ellis Zorro (December 2023)	Lost - (UD) v Jai Opetaia (February 2022)

Jai Opetaia
In Profile

Despite the opposition not belonging at world level, Jai Opetaia announced himself as one of boxing’s most electrifying performers last year.

Wins against British cruiserweights Jordan Thompson and Ellis Zorro won’t worry the cruiserweight division, but the manner of them should.

Opetaia was content to be stripped of his IBF world title for a career-high pay day in Saudi Arabia against Zorro in December.

The one-round blowout was a mismatch and the type of matchup that boxing doesn’t need but Opetaia went about his business using speed and power to bash up Zorro.

Three months earlier the Aussie was in London to defend his IBF title against Jordan Thompson.

The traditional patriotic pre-fight chatter gave Thompson a chance, but reality soon stepped all over it with Opetaia looking sensational in taking apart the Mancunian-born Londoner.

The world recognises Opetaia as the number one cruiserweight, but Mexico’s Gilberto Ramirez is a new threat having dominated Arsen Goulamirian on March 30 to win the WBA strap.

The UK contingent led by WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe will have their eye on May 18, too.

Opetaia starts as a justified 1/6 favourite but even an inactive Mairis Briedis is a huge step up from Thompson and Zorro.

Should Opetaia do to Briedis what he did to them, then the cruiserweight division and possibly the heavyweight division will have a major problem on their hands.

Strengths:	Weaknesses:
Speed	Over-commits
Power	Leaky defence
Explosiveness	Troubled by a good jab
Ruthless finisher	Chooses brawn over brains

Mairis Briedis
In Profile

Any sporting achievement coming out of Latvia can be hailed as a tremendous success.

The Baltic country has produced basketball stars and world-class tennis players but in boxing Mairis Briedis has carried the carmine red and white flag above his head with no-one in the background good enough to take if off him.

Having served as a Police officer in Latvia, Briedis left behind chasing bad guys for chasing titles in the squared circle.

Now into its 15th year, the career of Briedis has included winning the WBC, WBO and IBF cruiserweight title on separate occasions between 2017 and 2021.

Only Opetaia and former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk hold (hard-fought) wins over him.

At 39 years old, though, Briedis is staring at possible retirement and faces a hungry and devastating Opetaia, who will be looking to do a number on his rival on May 18.

When the first bell rings for their rematch we’ll soon know how much Briedis has left to offer.

Strengths:	Weaknesses:
Vast experience	Struggles with speed
Makes adjustments quickly	Struggles with movement
Right hand	Past his best
Distance fighter	Vulnerable to body shots

All odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.