Australian challenger Jay Opetaya (22-0, 17 KOs) broke his jaw already in the 2nd round of the fight against IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis (28-2, 20 KOs). This was told by Mark Wilson, his head coach.
According to the coach, he had no idea that his boxer had such an injury until at least the 11th round.
Wilson credits the injury with a right hand, probably an uppercut: “It was the only punch that actually hurt Jay in any way.”
Briedis wants revenge with Opetaya: video
“I didn’t know there was a fracture until the 11th round, when it became obvious that something was really wrong with him,” he told Fox Sports. – I then thought that we were two, three, four rounds ahead. I knew we were still capable of outboxing him, I knew Jay had the skills to do it. At that point, we may have started to lose a little towards the end of the fight. I told him, “Just move, buddy. We have to move. Don’t be stupid.” So we lasted.”
We add that after the fight, Briedis also reported an injury: he says he broke his nose already in the 1st round.
The fight ended unanimously in favor of Opetai.
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