Opetaia vs Briedis Prediction: Who Wins the Rematch?

Move over, Fury vs Usyk! This weekend's boxing extravaganza in Riyadh isn't just about the heavyweight titans. The lavish Kingdom Arena also hosts a sizzling cruiserweight title clash between Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis. Check out our Opetaia vs Briedis prediction ahead of the Friday night undercard event.

Will we get to see another brutal brawl between the two, when they meet almost two years after their first encounter? 

Opetaia vs Briedis Prediction: Opetaia Double Imminent?

Jai Opetaia

In a thrilling July 2022 bout in Australia, Opetaia dethroned IBF champion Briedis by a close points decision. Since then, Opetaia has continued his ascent, while Briedis has been on hiatus. The Aussie southpaw will now look to pull off a double against the Latvian to claim the vacant IBF cruiserweight title. 

In December last year, Opetaia registered his most impressive victory to date, defeating Ellis Zorro on the Day of Reckoning card. He dominated the non-title bout throughout. Opetaia floored Zorro with a left hook to the chin to pick up a stunning first-round knockout. 

Opetaia 🇦🇺 v Thompson 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/Q4FiGAkGNF

— jb 🥊 (@BoxingJb) December 12, 2023

Prior to this, he put an end to Jordan Thompson’s invincible run, with a technical knockout victory in the fourth round. Opetaia has remained undefeated throughout his professional career, which began in 2015. He comes into the Briedis rematch with a perfect record of 24-0. A popular Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis prediction, therefore, would be a repeat win for the 28-year-old. 

Mairis Briedis 

Mairis Briedis is a seasoned veteran with 30 fights to his name, but as mentioned above, he did not put his gloves back on since losing the IBF cruiserweight belt to Opetaia in July, 2022. Before that setback, however, the Latvian powerhouse had carved a remarkable path in the cruiserweight division.

When Mairis Briedis brutally knocked out Manuel Charr at heavyweight in Gronzy in August 2018

The 3 time Cruiserweight Champion aims to become a 4x Champion on Saturday when he rematches Jai Opetaia for the IBF Title pic.twitter.com/KnNX7e6Skw

— Tokkerū (@atokkers4) May 13, 2024

Back in 2019, Briedis reigned supreme in a hometown fight against Krzysztof Glowacki, capturing the prestigious WBO Cruiserweight title in Riga. He didn't just win the belt; he cemented his hold on it. Briedis successfully fended off challenges from Yuniel Dorticos in 2020 and Artur Mann in 2021 to extend his dominance in the division.

Earlier, Briedis made history by becoming the first Latvian boxer to win a world title. He achieved the feat by beating Marco Huck in the WBC Cruiserweight title fight in April, 2017. His reign was short lived, however, as he lost the title to Oleksandr Usyk nine months later.

How does he fare in our Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis prediction? Let's find out!

Jai Opetaia vs Mairis Briedis Prediction: Deja Vu for the Latvian Fighter

Our official Opetaia vs Briedis prediction is a repeat win for Jai Opetaia.

The Australian fighter has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the cruiserweight division. Over the past year, he dispatched British boxers Jordan Thompson and Ellis Zorro with devastating knockouts, both within five rounds. These victories serve as a stark warning to his future opponents. It appears to be an even more daunting challenge for Briedis as he has already been bested once by the Sydney man. 

The Latvian's inactivity could be the decisive factor in this fight. Briedis has conquered several world class fighters inside the ring, but can the 39-year-old hit the ground running after a two year absence? 

Opetaia is the clear favorite in this bout at -600. An outright bet for Opetaia won't be very rewarding, so let's explore alternative markets. 

Briedis should be able to give Opetaia a run for his money. The fight, therefore, should continue to the championship rounds. Opetaia to win from round 10-12 at +450 seems tempting. On the other hand, if you feel confident about a fourth IBF title win for Briedis, you can back him at +525.