Jai Opetaia will be losing the IBF cruiserweight title this weekend, as the sanctioning body has withdrawn its sanctioning of Opetaia’s fight with Brandon Glanton on Sunday.
The IBF made the decision official this evening.
Opetaia vs Glanton is the main event of a Zuffa Boxing card in Las Vegas, and Zuffa will be putting their own vacant cruiserweight title up for grabs in the fight. Because of this, the IBF has chosen to not sanction the fight, as it doesn’t fit with their unification rules that recognize
the WBC, WBA, and WBO, but not the new Zuffa titles.
Because Opetaia is taking part in an “unsanctioned” fight as IBF champ, his title will be declared vacant.
According to the IBF, the organization had spoken with Opetaia’s team extensively, and Opetaia’s team reportedly had told them that “any belt awarded by Zuffa” would be “characterized as a trophy or token of recognition,” but after the press conference this week, they withdrew sanctioning after it was “made clear” that the Zuffa title — which Zuffa clearly sees as more than a “trophy or token of recognition” — would still be contested.
It’s the second time the IBF has taken their title from Opetaia in this sort of situation. In 2023, the title went vacant after Opetaia decided to take a fight with Ellis Zorro. He regained it in his following bout, beating Mairis Briedis for the vacant title.
This means that Opetaia is a two-time IBF cruiserweight champion and will have never actually lost the title.
Opetaia (29-0, 23 KO) is a heavy favorite against Glanton (21-3, 18 KO) for Sunday’s card, which will stream live on Paramount+.
