Jai Opetaia's world title fight postponed

It's onwards and upwards for Jai Opetaia despite the Australian boxer's date with destiny being delayed yet again.

After months of negotiations, Opetaia's promoter Dean Lonergan had been scheduled to announce April 6 as Opetaia's long-awaited shot at world title glory.

Instead, Opetaia's Gold Coast clash with IBF world cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis has been postponed for another "three or four weeks" as the Latvian recovers from COVID-19 and the flu.

Lonergan received a phone call early on Wednesday morning from Briedis's camp just hours before a planned press conference announcement.

"He had COVID and now he says he has the flu," Lonergan told AAP.

"I'm now waiting for a doctor's certificate.

"The fact that he's asked for this extra time to get over the flu tells me that he's taking this very, very seriously."

If and when the fight does finally take place, Opetaia will carry an undefeated record into the showdown, winning 17 of his 21 professional fights by knockout.

Briedis (28-1, 20KO) has suffered only one loss during his decorated career.

Opetaia said he couldn't care less whether or not Briedis was being genuine or merely stalling.

"We're not looking at this delay as a negative," the 26-year-old told AAP.

"It just gives us more time to prepare - more sparring, more strength work.

"If anything, we're using the extra time in a good way."

At 37, Briedis is 11 years older than Opetaia and doubts linger over his ability to stay with his younger challenger.

"I feel much more confident in my abilities and I feel like I'm 25," the former Riga policeman said in pre-recorded message from Latvia.

"I'll come to Australia to show my best,"

Either way, Opetaia said he was confident of taking Briedis's belt and becoming