Jai Opetaia v Mairis Briedis: Prediction, Tips & Odds

Our resident boxing expert Rob Tebbutt shares his tips for Saturday night's highly anticipated cruiserweight rematch between Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis in Saudi Arabia.

Jai Opetaia v Mairis Briedis Tips

Jai Opetaia By Decision or Technical Decision @ 15/8

On the Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk undercard we see the return of Jai Opetaia as he rematches Mairis Briedis for the vacant IBF and Opetaia's Ring Magazine title.

This is of course a fight we've seen in the past with Opetaia winning the IBF title against Briedis before vacating it after his first defence against Jordan Thompson, in order to box Ellis Zorro.

This matchup is one that Opetaia is rightfully a sizeable favourite in. He's had the activity since his first meeting with Briedis and he is now more of a mature, calculated operator, whereas Breidis has been inactive and is now at the very end of his career.

Albeit a great fighter on his day, Breidis is now surely past his best.

Having said that, I do feel that the odds are very short in favour of Opetaia. I do pick him to win the fight, but I expect him to do it by decision, which is available at 15/8.

Briedis is one of the most experienced and gamest cruiserweights of the last generation and people forget that the first fight wasn't entirely smooth-sailing for Opetaia.

He won the first six rounds very clearly behind his movement, popping that jab from the southpaw stance and turning Briedis.

But by the end of that fight, Briedis was on top and putting it on Opetaia, even breaking his jaw in two places. In the last couple of rounds, Opetaia really had to grit it out and show a lot of toughness.

I don't really expect Briedis to have much success in the second bout but I do think he will be tough enough and experienced enough to go the distance.

So for me, I'm backing Opetaia to win by decision.

Jai Opetaia v Mairis Briedis Bet Boosts

Bet Builder
Jai Opetaia By KO, TKO or DQ
Jai Opetaia to score 2 or More Knockdowns
Under 8.5 Total Rounds
Was 6/1 >> Now 7/1

Bet Builder
Fight Result: Mairis Briedis
Mairis Briedis Most Punches Thrown
Mairis Briedis Most Punches Landed
Was 9/1 >> Now 10/1

Bet Builder
Jai Opetaia By Decision or Technical Decision
Jai Opetaia Most Punches Thrown
Jai Opetaia Most Punches Landed
Was 3/1 >> Now 13/4

All odds and Bet Boosts were correct and available at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal and fluctuation.