‘A game changer’: The plan to land knockout bout in Queensland
By Nick Wright
Advanced talks are under way to bring IBF cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia’s first title defence to south-east Queensland, where he is poised to face off against an English giant of boxing.
The Gold Coast-based pugilist’s manager, Mick Francis, confirmed to this masthead discussions were advanced for an August 23 bout on the Glitter Strip with British sensation Richard Riakporhe (16-0, 12 KO). The parties aim to finalise negotiations by July 14.
Australian boxer Jai Opetaia (left) fights Mairis Briedis for the IBF cruiserweight title.Credit: Getty
Francis said a sticking point in cementing the deal had been the location, with Riakporhe’s team fighting to take the contest to the United Kingdom.
However, as the belt holder, the Opetaia (22-0, 17 KO) camp was firm that the challenge take place on home soil - identifying the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre as the ideal host.
“Jai is the champion, and he should have the opportunity to have his first defence in Australia,” Francis said.
“That’s the whole thing about winning the world title is you hustle, you hustle, you hustle and when you finally win, why should you keep hustling?
“Jai has been out of the ring for a year on Sunday, so he’s been out for quite a while, so the last thing that personally we need to do is take Jai to the UK in foreign territory with 20,000 screaming Poms wanting his blood.
“We’re trying to bring that fight here to Australia and it’s looking very positive.
“We’ve had talks with local council and state government, which are both motivated to bring a big fight to Queensland, especially on the back of what Jai did a year ago.”
What Opetaia did a year ago was claim a memorable triumph to claim the IBF and The Ring championships, defeating Latvian Mairis Briedis on the Gold Coast despite suffering a severely broken jaw in the bout’s early exchanges.
Jai Opetaia breaks down in tears after winning the world title.Credit: Getty
The revelations come after Tasman Fighters, who manage Opetaia and Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni, forged an exclusive broadcast deal with international sport streaming service DAZN - which would showcase Opetaia’s world title defence to 182 countries.
The first fight night since the partnership was inked will take place on July 15 at the Fortitude Valley Music Hall, when light heavyweight contenders Connor Wallace and Mat Sheehan clash with a world ranking on the line.
Should Opetaia – who will partake in a Las Vegas training camp in the lead-up to his forthcoming bout – leave the ring against Riakporhe victorious, Francis said the path to unify the division would become clearer.
“It is a game changer that DAZN is actually taking Australian boxing seriously and they do want to invest in the Australian market,” Francis said.
“Jai wants to unify all the titles and Chris Billam-Smith [18-1, 12 KO] ... has got the WBO belt, and that’s the belt Jai has always wanted to fight for.
“I’ve been around sportspeople for a very long time but I can honestly say Jai Opetaia has got the biggest motor, he’s the hardest trainer and he’s got the best attitude I’ve ever seen in any athlete.”