Jai Opetaia’s date with destiny has been delayed yet again as IBF world cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis recovers from COVID-19.
After months of negotiations, Opetaia’s promoter Dean Lonergan had been scheduled to announce April 6 as Opetaia’s shot at Briedis on the Gold Coast.
Instead, the fight has been postponed for “three or four weeks” after Lonergan received a phone call early on Wednesday morning saying Briedis now has the flu.
“He had COVID and now he says he has the flu,” Lonergan told AAP.
“I’m now waiting for a doctor’s certificate.
“The fact that he’s asked for this extra time to get over the flu tells me that he’s taking this very, very seriously.”
If and when the fight does finally take place, Opetaia will carry an undefeated record into the showdown after winning 17 of his 21 professional fights by knockout.
Briedis (28-1, 20KO) has suffered only one loss during his decorated career.
But, at 37, the former Riga policeman is 11 years older than Opetaia.
“I feel much more confident in my abilities and I feel like I’m 25. I’ll come to Australia to show my best,” Briedis said in pre-recorded message from Latvia.
Opetaia said the “fact he’s talking about his age means he’s worried about it”.