Jai Opetaia is now a former two-time IBF cruiserweight titlist, without having ever lost the belt in the ring.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the unbeaten Australian was formally stripped of his sanctioning body belt, following a March 19 meeting held by the IBF Board of Directors. The ruling came two weeks after Opetaia, 30-0 (23 KOs), proceeded with an unsactioned fight versus Brandon Glanton, 21-4 (18 KOs) in their March 8 Zuffa Boxing 04 Paramount+ headliner.
“On March 19, 2026, the IBF Board of Directors met via teleconference to address the status of the IBF Cruiserweight title held by Jai Opetaia,” the IBF revealed in a ruling obtained by BoxingScene. “At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board voted to vacate the title pursuant to Rule 5.H.
“The IBF Cruiserweight title is vacant.”
IBF Rule 5.H discourages reigning titlists from participating in unsanctioned bouts.
Opetaia’s scheduled clash with Glanton was previously announced as part of the unbeaten champ’s debut with Zuffa Boxing, having signed with the company earlier this year. It was revealed in the weeks leading up to the event that the bout would also crown the first-ever Zuffa cruiserweight champion.
That is where things went sideways between the boxer and the sanctioning body, the latter whom agreed on March 5 to approve the bout on the promise that the Zuffa belt was little more than a trophy.
“The bout sanction followed discussions that began on February 11, when IBF President Daryl Peoples, after learning about the scheduled contest on social media, reminded Opetaia’s representatives of IBF Rule 5 governing champions and unification bouts. Michael (Mick) Francis, head of Tasman Fighters, Opetaia’s promoter of record with the IBF, followed with an application requesting sanction for the optional defense of the IBF Cruiserweight title. The IBF denied sanction of the bout pursuant to IBF Rule 5.E.2, which states: “For the purpose of unification of titles, the preeminent Champions of the World Boxing Association (‘WBA’), the World Boxing Council (‘WBC’), and the World Boxing Organization (‘WBO’) may be designated as ‘elite contenders’ and may be permitted to fight for the unified title.”
“Francis then requested that the committee reconsider its decision, noting that the bout would not be for unification, but the Zuffa title would be contested alongside the IBF title in the same manner that the International Boxing Organization (IBO) title has been contested in bouts involving IBF champions. Peoples explained that the IBF recognizes the IBO and added that like the other sanctioning organizations operating in U.S. professional boxing, it is subject to the same federal regulatory framework governing sanctioning bodies. Sanction remained denied.”
All parties were on the same page, to the point where Gibbons’ Knucklehead Boxing wired to the IBF a payment of $73,000 – covering the sanctioning fees for the reported purses of Opetaia ($45,000) and Glanton ($6,000), along with the promoter’s fee ($22,000).
Once it was confirmed during the final pre-fight press conference that Zuffa was proceeding full steam ahead with its promotion as if its belt were a world championship, IBF officials reversed course. Payment was returned on March 7, on the eve of the Paramount+ streamed event.
Opetaia defeated Glanton via unanimous decision to retain the title, as well as the RING championship which he has held since his July 2022 win over Mairis Briedis in Broadbeach, Australia.
Ever the proud titleholder, Opetaia stuck to his guns of wanting to become undisputed champion. He even shut down the agenda being forced upon him by series commentator Max Kellerman – a Zuffa employee and cohost of Ring Magazine’s “Inside the Ring” podcast – who insisted his holding the Ring and Zuffa titles already made him undisputed champion and that he “just doesn’t know it yet.”
Monday’s revelation could very well change that perspective.
Opetaia was previously relieved of the IBF belt in December 2023, when he moved forward with an unsanctioned fight versus unranked contender Ellis Zorro in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The ruling was far more clear-cut at the time – Zorro was not in the IBF top 15, and Opetaia was due a mandatory defense versus Briedis.
The matter was quickly resolved. Shortly after his 1st round knockout of Zorro, Opetaia agreed to once again face Briedis. He earned a repeat win in May 2024 to regain his old belt, which he successfully defended five times.
It remains unclear whether Opetaia and his team will choose to once again do business with the IBF. He was unwavering in his desire to face WBC titlist Noel Mikaelyan and the winner of the May 2 Gilberto Ramirez-David Benavidez WBA/WBO 200lbs title fight, in a bid to collect all the belts.
Whatever his decision, the sanctioning body he’s twice represented offered him nothing but the best moving forward.
“The IBF wishes Jai Opetaia continued success in his career. He rose through the IBF rankings to become World Champion, one of the highest achievements in a fighter’s career.
“As noted in an earlier press release regarding this situation, the IBF’s rules don’t always yield the preferred or popular outcome, but they provide structure and transparency, serving not just the champion but also those waiting for the opportunity to fight for the title.”
Next steps regarding the now vacant title were not immediately confirmed as this goes to publication.
