US EditionJai Opetaia Stripped of IBF Cruiserweight Title
The IBF cited Rule 5.H to vacate Opetaia's title after he fought in an unsanctioned bout for the Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship despite winning by unanimous decision.
- On Monday, the IBF stripped Jai Opetaia of his IBF Cruiserweight title following his March 8 bout with Brandon Glanton for the Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight championship.
- The IBF Board voted to vacate the title pursuant to Rule 5.H. after a March 19 teleconference, citing the unsanctioned nature of the contest and refunding Opetaia $73,000 in sanctioning fees.
- Opetaia defeated Glanton by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 119-106, securing the Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship despite the IBF withdrawing its sanction days prior.
- Previously stripped of the belt in 2023 for fighting Ellis Zorro instead of Mairis Briedis, Opetaia remains the Ring Magazine champion despite this second administrative setback.
- Opetaia may consider a move to Heavyweight or face the winner of David Benavidez and Gilberto Ramirez, though his goal of becoming an undisputed Cruiserweight champion has taken a step back.
12 Articles
12 Articles
The IBF stripped Jai Opetaia of the world title of the cruise weight after considering that the Australian had failed to comply with the agency’s regulations by contesting his fight against Brandon Glanton on March 8 with the Zuffa Boxing belt in play, an organization that the IBF does not recognize. The decision was communicated in a letter, so once again, a belt is won or lost away from a ring. The New Jersey-based agency withdrew the recognit…
Opetaia Stripped Of IBF Title Over Zuffa Belt Bout
Jai Opetaia has been stripped of his IBF cruiserweight world title after his bout with Brandon Glanton on 8 March. The Australian, 30, proceeded with the bout despite the IBF withdrawing its sanctioning in fight week, and became the first fighter to claim a Zuffa Boxing belt by beating Glanton. The IBF said the bout violated “Rule 5 E.2” which outlines the sanctioning body’s rules around unification fights, which is restricted to the WBC, WBA an…
The IBF withdraws Jai Opetaia from the world championship title. IBF withdraws Jai Opetaia from the world championship title in cruiser weight The undefeated Australian loses his IBF belt away from the ring. Background is a dispute over the recognition of another title. Dispute over title recognition leads to a withdrawal The IBF officially denied Jai Opetaia the world championship title in cruiser weight yesterday Monday. The 30-year-old had ho…
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