Australian boxing star Jai Opetaia says he will not let any sideshows involving Jake Paul and his next opponent distract him from the job at hand – winning a world title.
Opetaia will face Latvia’s Mairis Briedis for the IBF cruiserweight title in May this year, with the bout pushed back due to the reigning champion coming down with the flu.
The fight will be the first world title fight to be held in Australia since Jeff Horn faced Great Britain’s Gary Corcoran for the WBO welterweight title in 2017.
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While the 21-0 Aussie is more than deserving of the title shot, Briedis had previously hunted a big-money fight with Paul instead, even getting the YouTuber’s name tattooed.
However, despite Briedis’ histrionics, Opetaia is laser-focused on a fight he says “will change (his) life”.
“I have seen all the Jake Paul stuff and it does look at bit silly on social media,” he told Wide World of Sports.
“In saying that, I’m sure (Briedis) is training hard. It’s not his first rodeo, he’s fought for world titles before and he’s defended them as well, so I’m definitely not taking it lightly.
“I’m not letting it distract me either. What he and his camp does on his time has no affect on what we do.
“All we do is train hard and stay focused and we make sure that when that day comes, no matter what he’s done we’re ready to fight him.”
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Paul and his brother Logan, who fought boxing icon Floyd Mayweather last year, have shaken up the sport with their multi-million dollar bouts and brash trash talking.
The two have split opinions among fans over whether their presence is a positive or negative for the sport, and Opetaia largely stays away from the debate.
“Whether they fight or they don’t fight, I feel like it doesn’t affect me,” he said.
“They’re building up fighting, some people like it and some people don’t. I don’t see how their careers affect my journey to getting this world title.
“There’s enough publicity out there for everyone in their own level, so I feel like all I’ve got to do is train hard, perform, and win. It doesn’t matter who’s fighting who anywhere else, my respect will come.”
When questioned over whether he viewed Briedis’ audacious Paul pursuit as disrespect, the Aussie said he had no issues.
“He’s just chasing some money and who can blame him?” he said.
“If Jake Paul f–king rang me tomorrow and said, ‘Let’s fight for a billion’, I’m not an idiot, obviously I’m going to do it.
“Who cares what he’s doing? Who cares where his head is at? All we’ve got to worry about is where our head’s at in our team and do our job.”