Kalle Sauerland sees no reason why his IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis and Matchroom’s WBO titlist Lawrence Okolie can’t face one another in a unification this year.
Okolie is due to make the second defence of his title against Poland’s Michal Cieslak on February 27 while Briedis is set to take on Australia’s Jai Opetaia before the spring. After that the door is open to unify the division according to the Latvian’s promoter
Speaking to Sportsmail, Sauerland said: “We’ve been discussing the fight with Eddie [Hearn] for about a year. We were told there would be an offer incoming, then we got a mandatory which will be Jai Opetaia in Australia. That will be in March or April, then we’re free.
“We’ve got a good relationship with Matchroom and there’s no reason that fight can’t happen in the summer.”
Briedis, 37, has taken to social media recently to embark on what appears to be the pursuit of a fight against YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul. His tweets and videos include one showing him receiving a tattoo of the Internet star’s name. Sauerland says the ink is real and that Briedis is simply bored!
“It’s a bit tongue in cheek with Jake Paul,” Sauerland says.
“He’s a bit bored in lockdown in Latvia. Mairis is getting a kick out of the reaction. I think he’s serious about fighting him, but I don’t think Jake Paul is going to fight him.”