Two heavyweights of British boxing will slug it out for the rights to Jai Opetaia's first world-title defence, after the IBF ordered purse bids for the Australian's mandatory cruiserweight test against Richard Riakporhe.
The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight belt-holder has not fought in more than a year, since defying a twice-broken jaw to upset Latvian Mairis Briedis over the distance on the Gold Coast in early July 2022.
It's the second time his defence has gone to a purse bid, with original mandatory challenger Mateusz Masternak pulling out on the final day of negotiations earlier this month to further delay the champion's return to the ring.
"No one wants to fight Jai and that's the problem - they know they're going to get beat," Opetaia's manager Mick Francis told AAP.
"It doesn't matter if they fight on the Gold Coast, the UK or on the moon. He's the baddest cruiserweight we've seen and we've never had anyone genuinely call out Jai, ever."
Opetaia has signed with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing, with the British sporting promoter keen to win the bid and set up a hometown defence for his charge on a Gold Coast card also featuring heavyweight prospect Justis Huni.
Riakporhe is backed by BOXXER and Sky Sports, who will want the fight in the Londoner's native England.
"You've got two of the biggest boxing powerhouses in the UK going at it now, plenty of pride on the line there to get this fight," Francis said.
"Eddie has made it clear he wants to do it in Australia and put Justis on the undercard.
"He's got (Toowoomba product) Stevie Spark at Matchroom too, Conor Wallace .... we could put on a massive, high-quality card and I know Gold Coast wants to be the boxing capital of Australia."
The parties have until August 8 to make their offer, with Briedis one place further back in the standings and keen for a rematch if the Riakporhe bid falls through.
