Jai Opetaia and Mairis Briedis could have shared one other 12 brutal rounds collectively, however the pair have been all smiles following their titanic battle in Saudi Arabia. 

Opetaia, 28, reclaimed his cruiserweight title in Riyadh on the judges scorecard however was pressured to hold on within the latter rounds along with his veteran rival approaching sturdy seeking a decisive knockout.

The Australian, who defeated Briedis on the Gold Coast to first win the title in 2022, was hospitalised with a damaged jaw after that bout and as soon as once more visited hospital after his second bout towards the Latvian.

And within the early hours of Sunday morning, Opetaia and Briedis each obtained medical consideration, they usually every noticed the humorous aspect of being again in hospital collectively. 

Briedis shared a selfie of himself with a bandage on his nostril whereas Opetaia was sat in a mattress within the background. Each males have been grinning. 

Opetaia reclaimed the belt he took off Briedis in 2022 however was pressured to surrender earlier this yr, when he fought Ellis Zorro in Saudi Arabia towards the organisation’s needs.

The Gold Coast-based 28-year-old’s victory snapped a run of current title-fight losses by Australian quartet Tim Tszyu, George Kambosos Jnr and Moloney twins Jason and Andrew.

With Cristiano Ronaldo among the many celebrities within the entrance row, Opetaia was in cruise management within the first half of the battle.

Within the sixth spherical he rattled Briedis with a brief left hook then a straight left that appeared to interrupt his nostril.

The robust Latvian dropped to 28-3, his solely losses by factors choices to Opetaia twice and Usyk.

Earlier, Queensland-based New Zealand Olympic bronze medallist David Nyika improved to 9-0 with a business-like stoppage of beforehand undefeated German Michael Seitz.

Cruiserweight Nyika pounded the physique of his opponent, who finally succumbed within the fourth spherical.