Jai Opetaia v Brandon Glanton

Jai Opetaia has warned that he will be “very f***ing disappointed” if Zuffa Boxing does not enable him to unify the cruiserweight world titles.

Opetaia joined Zuffa last month, as the first high-profile signing by the new promotion, which is headed up by UFC president Dana White.

One curious element of Opetaia’s decision to join is that he has long expressed a desire to become undisputed cruiserweight champion – which would require him to add the remaining traditional belts to his IBF title – while Zuffa suggested it wants to move away from the current belt system.

Yet Opetaia, 30, has stressed that his goal remains the same, as the unbeaten Australian prepares to face Brandon Glanton on 8 March.

Still, he told RG this week that his goal is still “undisputed”, before he fired a warning to the Zuffa hierarchy: “If we don’t get one [unification fight] by the end of the year, I’ll be very f***ing disappointed.

“Don’t take your mind off undisputed. We're chasing unification fights [...] When you think of me, you think: ‘Bro, he wants to be undisputed.’ That’s it. I’m not worried about anyone else, I don’t chase names.

“I don’t even care if it was ‘Zurdo’ [Gilberto Ramirez], or if it was [David] Benavidez, or if it was back when it was [Chris] Billam-Smith. I actually respect these dudes. I think they’re great fighters, I think they’re great world champions.”

In any case, Opetaia insisted that Zuffa has “the same goal” as him, adding: “There was a couple of things. We sort of sat down, we went over what we wanted to do, and they said they can help us make sure things happen like that.

“They’re gonna help us make sure it happens the way we want it, to the best of their ability. But yeah, man, it just fit. It made sense, so why not?”

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-b2927918.html

https://scontent-lhr6-1.xx.fbcdn.net...rA&oe=69A89356

jai's gonna beat this dude up

Jai Opetaia will be stripped of his IBF world title when he faces Brandon Glanton on his Zuffa Boxing debut.

They have released a statement via Boxing Scene which read: “The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has withdrawn sanction of the optional defense of the IBF Cruiserweight Title between champion Jai Opetaia and #15 ranked contender Brandon Glanton scheduled for March 8, 2026.

“With sanction withdrawn, the Opetaia vs. Glanton bout is now an Unsanctioned Contest.

"IBF Rule 5.H. states in part - 'An Unsanctioned Contest is a fight which the IBF has not formally approved for sanction or where sanction has been formally withdrawn'.

"'If a Champion participates in an unsanctioned contest within his prescribed weight limit, the title will be declared vacant whether the Champion wins or loses the bout'.”

https://talksport.com/boxing/4031463...-boxing-debut/

Woeful undercard but managed to stay awake ;D. This just is not the type of environment for a "historical championship fight". It's a weird catch-22...pretty much silence fight to fight but it's the first time in a long time that I turned the volume down, mainly due to Max and Tessitore trying to "shout" excitement into the arena. I think Jai will do very well with Glanton, as he should. Post fight the hype will be overboard...and I'm half expecting them to publicly trash the Ibf strap. Literally, drop in into a trash can like Bowe did the Wbc decades ago. But to me, they were right to strip Jai. Let zuffa stand on its own just as they said they will. But seriously do hope for an entertaining fight. All the dopey trinkets aside.

Jai is the best at weight and won by a near shutout. Max and Zuffa are annoying with their new belt. Jai will never be able to unify now but if he can’t get the winner Benavedez/Zurdo he will have to go up at heavyweight.

i couldn't get on the site yesterday,

jai opetaia v brandon glanton
http://ok.ru/video/12078517258853

jaycob ramos has been in tough twice now in a matter of months & could have arguably won both, like to see it. i thought the match making again (outside the main) was competitive once again

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spicoli

the Ibf were right to strip Jai

---

as long as they refund the sanctioning fee they allegedly took