A shocking image showing two clear jaw breaks on either side of the face, has revealed the incredible extent of Jai Opetaia’s bravery in his IBF cruiserweight world title win over Mairis Briedis on Saturday night at the Gold Coast.
It was revealed by doctors in an emotional dressing room that Opetaia’s jaw had been fractured on both sides of his mouth; first on one side in the second round, then again on the other side in the sixth round.
The 27-year-old Aussie was in a tremendous amount of pain after what by Opetaia’s promotor Dean Lonergan dubbed one of ‘the most brutal fights in Australian boxing history’.
All the new champ could do when asked about the win by commentator Ben Damon after the bout was yell at the crowd without forming any words, invoking memories of Sylvester Stallone yelling ‘ADRIAANNNNN!’ in Rocky.
Two distinct jawline breaks can be seen (circled) in the scan of Opetaia’s face after his incredibly gutsy cruiserweight title win
Opetaia, who couldn’t even bite down on his mouthguard in the final round, went straight from the stadium to the emergency department and had surgery on Sunday night.
‘Jai will have a two-or-three hour operation, he will have his jaw wired and be drinking fluids for the next two months,’ said Lonergan.
Ringside doctor Ben Manion revealed Opetaia could be kept out of the ring for up to five months.
‘(With) bones you get about 80 per cent strength back after about eight weeks so he’ll probably be able to lightly train after that time,’ he told the Courier Mail.
‘It will be three, four, five months (until he can fight again). One of the guys asked does it normally break on both sides after it’s broken on one side and I said, ‘People don’t normally compete after that time’.’
Mairis Briedis (back to camera) hits Jai Opetaia on the chin during their fight
Judges awarded Opetaia the fight in a unanimous decision: 116-112, 115-113, 116-112, with Briedis congratulating him after the match, and telling the crowd to ‘enjoy your world champion’.
Lonergan said ‘it’s without doubt the toughest moment in Australian boxing,’ before then comparing it to Rabbitohs captain John Sattler winning the 1970 grand final over Manly with a double fracture to his jaw.
‘John Sattler is revered in Australian sport folklore for playing a grand final with a broken jaw and now Jai is up there with him,’ he said.
‘In fact, I would say it’s even braver because unlike Sattler, Jai had an opponent in his face trying to break the other side of his jaw with direct punches.’
Blood could be seen pouring from Opetaia’s (right) face during the latter rounds
Lonergan said all he needed to do to promote Opetaia’s next fight ‘is put it on. He showed everything’.
That was immediately apparent.
He is already fielding offers to fight for his world title belt, and was greeted immediately by a challenge from current WBO champion Lawrence Okolie, who holds the belt Opetaia had promised his late grandfather he’d win.
‘He’s gotta enjoy the belts but OMG, what a fight (that) has just been set up. Imma show Briedis how it’s f***ing done,’ Okolie tweeted.
Jai Opetaia won the bout by unanimous decision
Opetaia had already been dubbed the hardest Australian boxer ever by Jeff Fenech prior to the bout with Briedis, with the legendary fighter labelling him ‘toughest, most skilled big man he has ever seen.’
Given Fenech has trained Mike Tyson, who is considered one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, it’s quite the statement.
Paul Gallen (right) sang Jai Opetaia’s (left) praises after his win over Mairis Briedis
Former NRL star-turned-boxer Paul Gallen also sung his countryman’s praises, labelling him the ‘slickest, fastest, hardest-to-hit guy I have ever sparred’ while Jeff Horn was in awe of Opetaia’s bravery.
‘The display of toughness by was VERY impressive. Two fractures on both sides of his jaw! This is just ONE example of how much you need to want it to be world champion,’ he wrote on Instagram.
Jeff Horn (right) lauded the bravery of his compatriot Jai Opetaia
Only current heavyweight world champion Oleksander Usyk had beaten the 37-year-old Briedis, who surged back into the fight in the final five rounds after Opetaia had started well.
Several big blows rocked Opetaia in the 10th round but he steadied and the pair stood and traded blows in an epic final round as the damage to Opetaia’s jaw became unmissable.
The bout between Mairis Briedis (left) and Jai Opetaia (right) was a bruising encounter
It was an epic match, with neither fighter giving an inch, and fans getting exactly what they paid for – and then some.
‘There will be no rematch. I will not put Jai in the ring with a beast like Briedis ever again,’ Lonergan insisted.
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