Comments Thread For: Jai Opetaia Faces Being Stripped Of IBF Title Ahead Of Planned Fight Versus Ellis Zorro

[ShoulderRoll]

Paragraph 9 of their Ratings Criteria:
"For a boxer to be rated in the number one (1) or number (2) position, he must be rated in one of the top five (5) available positions and beat another boxer rated in one of the top five (5) available positions."

There is no #1 or #2 right now. Currently, Briedis is #3, Ramirez is #4 and Rozicki is #5. Why doesn't Briedis have to fight one of them for a title shot? Even if they ducked Briedis, I still dislike the idea of a fighter getting a mandatory shot while essentially doing NOTHING to earn it. If they don't fight him, then IBF needs to find a contender who will.

The IBF is not to be idolized or admired. They behave inconsistently just like every other org. It's rules like #13 that allow them to: "All ratings criteria are subject to exception by the Ratings Committee."

The IBF is letting Hrgovic fight a non-ranked IBF contender on the SAME card, but they take issue with Opetaia doing it. Does the IBF not keep in close communication with fighters?

I think they are to be admired, because it would be to their benefit to find any bullsh1t way to sanction the Opetaia fight just to get a cut of his Saudi purse in the form of sanctioning fees. That’s something Mauricio Sulaiman and all the others would do.

They are choosing to go by the rules instead even if it means missing out on the money.

[kiaba360]

I think they are to be admired, because it would be to their benefit to find any bullsh1t way to sanction the Opetaia fight just to get a cut of his Saudi purse in the form of sanctioning fees. That’s something Mauricio Sulaiman and all the others would do.

They are choosing to go by the rules instead even if it means missing out on the money.

While I agree with you, at least making a decision based on money is rational. The IBF doesn't even seem to be following rule #9 to the letter. There wasn't an announcement of an eliminator between Briedis/Ramirez/Rozicki. They have a rule for this particular circumstance and don't seem to be enforcing it....which leads me to believe that #13 is what they're using to push Briedis to mandatory position. So yes...technically the IBF is going by the rules, but so is every other ABC body then. I want to see an Opetaia/Briedis rematch, but Opetaia getting stripped for not fighting someone who did nothing to earn the mandatory spot....what is there to admire?

[Boxing2695]

Opetaia’s promoter was in a rush to put him on the card without following the IBF rule book. That promoter being Fast Eddie Hearn.

Well hearn has came out in the last few hours an said Opetaia is gonna vacate the belt because he's gotta two fight deal with Saudi and it's apparently massive money. So it seems he's made the choice. Zurdo ramirez vs briedas for the vacant title in play

[crimsonfalcon07]

Why is Briedis mandatory and why isn't that the fight that's happening on the Saudi card? If he's got an ordered mandatory, he should be fighting Briedis on that card. Did Briedis turn down the fight or did they just not ask him?

[Combat Talk Radio]

a couple of guys declined a fight with jai and were rightfully demoted. it's the main reason why we sometimes get a lesser quality ibf mandatory challenger or champion. that made mairis the highest ranked contender.
opetaia should just proceed with this scheduled fight for a good purse and exposure. he already defeated mairis with a broken jaw and being 38 briedis is not getting any better. this is not a duck at all and nobody should criticize opetaia. noel mikaelyan was robbed against briedis in wbss 2. opetaia should target him or billam smith next year.

Not fighting the mando is ducking. Just like you guys have said about Canelo multiple times. Let’s be consistent

[Cypocryphy]

Opetai is ducking Breidis. I think that's obvious. Every time Opetai hears Breidis' name, he rubs his jaw. That's why that fight isn't happening.

[kiaba360]