Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis Stats Comparison and Prediction: Record, Age, Height, Reach, Weight, and Knockout Ratio

It is not just Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk who have vowed to entertain you this weekend. At the lavish Kingdom Arena of Riyadh, another title clash on their undercard is generating major hype. It is the cruiserweight battle between Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis.

It is the second time the fighters will see each other in the ring. Back in July 2022, there was a fight between Opetaia and Briedis in Australia for the IBF title, which Briedis was the current holder of. That night Opetaia managed to win the title on points. From then on, he was able to compete effectively, while his opponent took a sabbatical. In their second innings against each other, this premise holds major chunks as to who assumes the position of the favorite.

Jai Opetaia vs. Mairis Briedis: What does their record look like?

In December last year, the Aussie fighter recorded his most impressive victory when he defeated Ellis Zorro on the Day of Reckoning card. The non-title fight saw him put Zorro to the canvas by a left to the chin in the first round, ending the fight prematurely in his favor. Before that was his title defense after the Briedis fight, he defeated the undefeated, Jordan Thompson, in the fourth round through a technical knockout. His career has spanned almost 8 years since he turned pro in 2015 and the fighter has remained undefeated with a record of 24-0.

On the other hand, Briedis, the Latvian fighter, has not fought anyone since his 2022 defeat. In 2019, in a Riga matchup, he defeated Krzysztof Glowacki to win the WBO Cruiser belt. Following that, he effectively protected his title against the challenges of Yuniel Dorticos (2020) and Artur Mann (2021), until Opetaia put an end to his winning streak. That loss was, however, not his first. In 2018, against the current unified heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk, he lost his WBC Cruiser title by a majority decision. Today, after 15 years of presence in the sport, he holds a record of 28-2.

An insight into their stats

Opetaia, 28, a southpaw fights in the cruiserweight division and met his last fight’s weight requirements at 198.5 lbs. He is 6’2” tall and has a reach of 76”. With 19 wins through knockouts on his 24-undefeated record, the fighter is a strong knockout champion. His KO ratio dances at 79.19%. Briedis, 39, an orthodox fighter, met his last fight’s weight requirements at 198.75 lbs. He is 6’1” tall and has a reach of 75”. With 20 wins out of 28 coming from knockouts, his KO ratio remains at a good 71.43%.

With age clearly not in favor of Briedis compared to Opetaia, the disadvantage clearly lies with him. While their height and reach are almost in the same range, their record experience also does not offer a massive disparity. However, the major gap of two years on Briedis’ record might be an enormous factor that will decide his fate on fight night.

Prediction: Will the gap and age determine everything?

Opetaia’s recent performances, including his notable victory over Ellis Zorro, highlight his continued prowess in the ring. With his height and reach advantage at par with Briedis, Opetaia’s young power and uninterrupted activity in the ring underscore that he will enter the rematch with confidence and momentum.

Conversely, Briedis faces the challenge of age and a two-year hiatus from competition. Despite his extensive experience and previous championship successes, he may struggle to regain his peak form. Additionally, his age raises questions about his ability to endure the physical demands.

Boxing is inherently unpredictable. Briedis’ experience and determination cannot be discounted. If Briedis rejuvenates himself during his time away from the ring and weather Opetaia’s early onslaught, the rematch could go into a fiercely contested battle where both fighters trade heavy blows.

Who do you think will win this fight? Take your picks in the comments section below.