Mayweather is Aussie’s secret weapon
JAI Opetaia will unleash the tactical style made famous by boxing icon Floyd Mayweather Jr as the Australian attempts to outsmart Mairis Briedis and fulfil his destiny in Saturday’s world-title blockbuster.
On the eve of his world-title debut, Opetaia (21-0, 17KO) declared his showdown with hulking Latvian Briedis (28-1, 20KO) – the world’s No.1 cruiserweight – would degenerate into a “war” at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
But it will be a battle of brain, not brawn, that will decide the outcome, with Opetaia revealing he will adopt the strategic masterplan that made “Money” Mayweather arguably the greatest pound-for-pound pugilist in history. The slick and quick American amassed a perfect 50-0 record with a peerless defensive counterpunching style. The Mayweather motto was “Make ’em miss and make ’em pay”.
It’s a mantra that has struck a chord with Opetaia as the 27year-old plots a glitter-strip ambush by bamboozling IBF champion Briedis in what shapes as one of the most historic fights on Australian soil.
“I will try and box smart,” said Sydney slugger Opetaia, now based on the Gold Coast.
“I wouldn’t say I had a boxing hero. I never looked at one boxer and said I want to be like him, or wished I had what they had, but one guy I really admired was Floyd Mayweather.
“One thing I liked about Mayweather was the way he won smart – his whole strategy was to hit and not get hit.
“That’s definitely my game plan going into this fight.
“What separates the good from the great is capitalising on your opponent’s mistakes.
“It’s not about power punching. People focus on that but punching is the easy part. It’s the footwork, your tactical awareness and your ability to counterpunch that separates the good from the great.”