Blood covers the ringside commentary table during Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis’ fight as both men break noses

Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis engaged in a bloody battle on the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk undercard.

The two men faced off in an IBF cruiserweight world title fight that caught fire late on.

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In their first meeting in July 2022, Opetaia won by unanimous decision and it was the same result again when they returned to Riyadh.

Last time, Opetaia broke his jaw. Although he remained intact for their second fight, his nose is not and neither is Briedis’.

A cautious opening match saw Briedis very reluctant to let his hands go as Opetaia touched him up with the lead hand.

In the second round, the tempo picked up with Opetaia dictating the pace from the outside as he darted in and out of range, landing straight, clean shots at will.

Numerous feints from the Australian southpaw kept Briedis guessing as a look of frustration began to appear on the Latvian’s face.

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By the fourth round, Opetaia was well into his rhythm, although Briedis had limited success when manhandling his opponent on the inside.

It was a slightly more pedestrian pace than most expected, but it was hard not to appreciate Opetaia’s clever boxing.

In the sixth round, a big left hand wobbled Briedis and appeared to break his nose as blood began to flow.

But it must be recognized that he continued without being discouraged.

Boxing off the back foot, it was clear that Briedis had some rust to shake off.

Opetaia’s sharpness proved too strong for Briedis who was often found wanting.

In the tenth round however, Briedis slipped in an uppercut that stunned Opetaia as the round ended.

Sensing his man was hurt, Briedis came out throwing caution to the wind in the 11th as the action caught fire.

Now sporting a broken nose of his own, Opetaia looked in trouble for the first time in the fight with blood splattered all over the commentary table.

“There’s blood all over our table here,” Todd Grisham said on DAZN communications.

Grisham’s co-commentator Barry Jones then added, “That blood splattered all over my head.” »

It wasn’t just the commentators and the two fighters who were drenched in blood.

The referee was also covered in claret after separating the two men several times.

In the final frame, both men let their hands go and Briedis finished the fight strong.

However, it proved to be too little and too late as the judges awarded it to Opetaia with scores of 117-111, 116-112, 116-112 in her favor.

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