“I’m chasing belts, I’m not chasing names” – Jai Opetaia is in fight mode and doesn’t care what his rivals are doing

JAI OPETAIA desires to make up for misplaced time and capitalise on an important interval in his profession.

The 28-yr-previous sat on the sidelines for over a yr after sustaining a jaw harm in his victory towards Mairis Briedis in July 2022. Issues exterior the game added to his delay however the Aussie prides himself on being all the time prepared which was evident when he returned final September bulldozing Jordan Thompson to a fourth-spherical stoppage in London.

Keen to stay lively Opetaia flattened Ellis Zorro in one spherical three months later. A far stiffer take a look at awaits, nevertheless, on Saturday evening (May 18) when Opetaia and Briedis renew acquaintances on the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury undercard. The two cruiserweights will contest the vacant IBF title, as soon as held by each fighters, however this time it’s Briedis returning after a prolonged interval of absence. In reality the final time he fought was towards his rival in July 2022.

“I’m ready for 12 rounds of war, I’m expecting a hard fight,” Opetaia advised Boxing News.

“I’ve got respect for a fighter like Briedis, he’s been around for a long time. I’m ready.”

Respect appeared to fly out the window when he referred to as the Latvian a p***y in a video proven on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel.

“It was more heat of the moment I don’t hold grudges,” he mentioned.

“I’m sure he’s a nice guy. They got me where I was a bit angry. He pulled out of a fight twice and then they stripped me of the [IBF] belt. And all this stuff that was going on behind the scenes was just a whole lot of nonsense. This is business at the end of the day. We’re going to get in the fight and go to war.”

Opetaia rejected any claims he needed to punish the 39-yr-previous veteran as a result of this isn’t private to him. The primary cruiserweight doesn’t mess about in interviews and offers an impression of being a spiky character. But this is fight week, this is enterprise and Opetaia is in fight mode. Nothing else issues.

BN requested for his opinion on the June 15 rematch between WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe however Opetaia isn’t notably in what another fighter is doing. This clears his thoughts and sharpens the main target. No matter who holds the opposite world titles he desires them.

“I’m chasing belts, that’s it,” he mentioned. “I’m not chasing names. Whoever’s got the belts that’s who I want to fight.”

“I’m their motivation,” he added. “I’m in the trenches. They know I’m working hard. They know when they fight me they got to come correct. I’m the same. When I fight these boys I got to handle business.”