Australian boxing sensation Jai Opetaia is set to fight IBF and Ring cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis in the coming months in a massive world title bout on home soil.
But Briedis, a three-time world champion with a 28-1 record, has his heart set on a completely different bout: against social media personality turned boxer Jake Paul. And 36-year-old Briedis has even gone so far as to get a tattoo to try and convince Paul to book the fight.
Paul moved to 5-0 (4KOs) as a pro boxer in the cruiserweight division with a stunning knockout of former UFC champion Tyron Woodley in their December rematch.
The controversial and brash Paul has quickly become one of the hottest names in boxing, a prize fighter with an exceptional ability to market his fights. He is currently waging war with UFC boss Dana White as he attempts to book a bout with a number of top UFC fighters, including Conor McGregor.
In order to get the attention of the YouTuber-turned-boxer, Briedis posted a video to Instagram of himself getting a tattoo which reads: “Jake’s bad karma”.
His dramatic ploy left the boxing world stunned. WBO cruiserweight world champion Lawrence Okolie himself tweeted: “There is no way that a real tattoo,” before doubling down later: “Can’t be a real tattoo … surely?”
As yet, Paul has not responded to the move, nor to an offer from Briedis’ promoter Kalle Sauerland in March over a fight for the Latvian’s world title belts.
“Hey @jakepaul – happy to arrange you taking a shot at Mairis Briedis belts, only condition if you lose you have to leave boxing … deal?”
Briedis isn’t the only person to get a tattoo in an attempt to book a date in the ring with 24-year-old Paul. Woodley famously got an “I love Jake Paul” tattoo on his middle finger to secure a rematch – only to lose the second meeting via knockout.
For now, Opetaia (21-0, 17 KOs) is the mandatory challenger for Briedis’ IBF crown, with a bout mandated before mid-April.
Should he win, he would not just become a world champion – he might just stop his Latvian opponent from a big-money bout with Paul.