Two-time IBF cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetai reclaimed the belt and confirmed his status as the top fighter in his division after his long-awaited rematch with Mairis Briedis on the Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk card on May 18 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

Nearly two years after the all-out war on Australia’s Gold Coast, where Opetaia broke both sides of his jaw, the rematch was a much more technical affair. The judges scored the fight 117-111 and 116-112 twice for the Australian to win the title he vacated before his debut in Saudi Arabia in delayed 2023.

“I think everyone was shocked by how the fight went,” Opetaia said Boxing news. “I expected a completely different type of aggression, and honestly, we prepared for a completely different type of fight. He really showed his experience in the ring and really earned my respect. The rematch was more about his learning, it was a bit of a chess match. I thought his age might make him die a little.

“There were a few things that went wrong in our camp injury-wise, but I was always in good shape and knew I was ready for the full 12 rounds. I knew I had it in my pocket to be able to dig deep when I needed it. It wasn’t such a fast-paced fight, there weren’t piles of punches involved, and the presence of the body and constant thinking still took a lot of time!

“It’s a completely different piece of fitness in itself. If you’re not vigilant 24/7 in high-stakes, high-pressure fights, you can get caught and start losing. He kept his pace and remained alert throughout the fight. He proved why he was at the top in my eyes for so long. I expected it to be a lot easier, to be candid. I thought he would tardy down and I would be able to hurt him. I definitely learned a lot from this fight and I’m definitely better because of it. Everything is positive, I learned a lot of lessons and I took it as a huge learning experience. “

The 25-0, 19 KO southpaw would never have been able to predict his career between his two fights with Briedis. While recovering from multiple broken jaws, Opetaia and former promoter Dean Lonergan became involved in a legal dispute that is still not resolved. Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom has provided the Australian with access to services almost 15 months after the bloodbath that saw him become world champion for the first time.

Opetaia knocked out undefeated Jordan Thompson over four rounds at Wembley Arena to celebrate his partnership with Hearn on his British debut. The riches of Riyad’s season came when Turki Alalshikh identified Opetaia as part of a heavyweight double-header that would see Anthony Joshua eliminate Otto Wallin in the fifth round and Joseph Parker unexpectedly overtake Deontay Wilder on December 23.

The increasingly coveted rematch with Briedis was originally scheduled to be part of a Saudi boxing extravaganza that saw Daniel Dubois-Jarrell Miller, Agit Kabayel-Arslanbek Makhmudov and Dmitry Bivol defend their WBO lithe heavyweight belt against Lyndon Arthur. Opetaia will instead face another undefeated Englishman in Ellis Zorro, but will be stripped of his title by the IBF for not facing a ranked opponent in Riyad.

“It’s been a crazy journey, man,” Opetaia said with some relief. “I lost the belt outside the ring, but now I have it back. I am a two-time world champion. It was good to have these two fights between Briedis. All I ever wanted was to be busy, and I was busy. I was punished for it, but it is what it is. Everything turned out very positive. I had the opportunity to fight on some of the greatest fight nights the world has ever seen. We go up and wait.

“It’s great to be a part of it and they really raise the bar with some of the best performances of the decade. I am blessed to be a part of this. I feel like this shot is destiny. It all led to this, these opportunities, training over the years. It’s good to be here. I feel like I deserve it. If you asked me if I would ever vacate the world title, I would never believe you.

Alalshikh reportedly made a seven-figure offer to Opetai and WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith to unify half of the 200-pound division on the undercard of an undisputed lithe heavyweight bout between Russian rivals Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol on October 12 in Riyad. Since then, Opetaia has continued to fight via video on social media.

However, Billam-Smith said Boxing news last week: “I think they wanted October 12, and I’m not going to shorten camp for anyone. I’ve never done that in my career, except when it was absolutely necessary with Isaac Chamberlain. He added later. “Ideally we would like to fight Opetaia, but if he can only fight on October 12 and I can only fight in November/December, it won’t happen. I’m cheerful to fight him. I will be ready at the turn of November and December. Obviously you have the December card and then I will be cheerful to fight him. The team will take care of the rest.”

The WBC title currently sits in Armenia’s trophy case Noel Mikaelyanwho will defend the belt against Ryan Rozicki on September 28 in Miami [that bout was later cancelled – Ed]. Gilberto Ramirez is the WBA champion after winning a unanimous decision over Arsene Goulamirian in March. Perhaps Opetai’s dreams of reunification will have to wait.

“If I don’t standardize the titles, I’ll feel like I’m not going in the right direction,” Opetaia explained. “I don’t understand the other side’s reluctance not to fight. This is a huge opportunity, a chance to do something historic in sports. All I’m doing is chasing belts that I’ve never had before, WBC, WBA, WBO. I want these belts to become the undisputed champion. What else would I do? Chasing uncomplicated fights?

“I really can’t come to terms with the fact that other champions don’t take chances with both hands. I’m having a difficult time keeping my head together. We will always be able to find the fight. There will be many fighters who will take the opportunity without the belt, it’s a win, a win for them. That’s why most players train so difficult.”

Opetaia will fight his third stand-up fight in the capital of Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, Riyad became home to a Sydney-born slugger we knew little about until he wrested the cruiserweight crown from Briedis over two years ago.

“I gave up the world title to fight on a bigger stage, and everything fell into place and I won the belt back in one of the greatest fights of all time,” Opetaia added. “I’m glad we stayed in good shape throughout the period. We just made sure we were prepared and didn’t get into any bullshit or put anyone down. All I have to do is focus on winning fights. The season in Riyad adds a modern dimension to boxing, where all I have to do is keep my head down and everything else will follow. I have to train difficult and fight whoever they put in front of me, that’s who I have to beat.

“The first card I fought on, that Day of Reckoning card, was amazing. It had Bivol, AJ, Wilder, Parker, Dubois, Baby Miller… It was just huge. This is one of the most stacked cards I have ever seen in my life, of course they branch out and make more of them. It was crazy to just get your foot in the door and brush against that size, it was just huge. But honestly, it made my blood boil that the IBF wouldn’t let me fight that fight and was holding me back from achieving my goals and moving forward in life just because of a rulebook that was written a damn century ago. It was risky and risky, but it all paid off.”