Comments Thread For: Frank Warren Rips IBF's Decision on Jai Opetaia: It's Very Short-Sighted, Ridiculous Really

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Frank Warren, who leads the promotional charge of Saturday's 'Day of Reckoning' card in Saudi Arabia, has slammed the IBF's recent decision which forced cruiserweight Jai Opetaia to vacate his world title.
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[pollywog]

It sets a precedent for others to follow as i believe Opetaias strap was the only one up for grabs.

Makes me think even more that Usyk or Fury will retire undefeated and bin the belts.

[Combat Talk Radio]

When these promoters are upset at the orgs for doing their job, it means the business is slowly fixing itself.

All it took was the loss of two major networks.

[VislorTurlough]

Yeah everyone gets a gimme now and then. He just had one of those tho

[James Hunt]

Opetaia is not a PBC guy.
They can do whatever the *** they want.

[PBR Streetgang]

I don't like any of the sanctioning bodies but the IBF seems to be the one that most consistently follows it's own rules.

[Eff Pandas]

I still don't understand why he couldn't fight this guy for no belt. Like why are the only ibf options to fight this guy & lose your belt or don't fight this guy. Are non title fights as a belt holder not a thing with the ibf?

[Combat Talk Radio]

I still don't understand why he couldn't fight this guy for no belt. Like why are the only ibf options to fight this guy & lose your belt or don't fight this guy. Are non title fights as a belt holder not a thing with the ibf?

IBF has no problem with you fighting someone else, but it has to be in the current division, a top level guy, and not just a blatant cash grab. OR a unification. They’ll let you slide if you agree to fight their mando within a reasonable amount of time.

The problem is, these guys don’t want to fight the mando for whatever reason. That’s a duck, even if it’s not a “popular” fight.

That’s the problem with the current era, but I blame Rid**** Bowe with his trash stunt. It sent a message that ducking is okay if the fans say it is.

[dan-b]

The IBF were trying to enforce less boxing for a guy who only got back to number one by default.

[drablj]

I still don't understand why he couldn't fight this guy for no belt. Like why are the only ibf options to fight this guy & lose your belt or don't fight this guy. Are non title fights as a belt holder not a thing with the ibf?

mandatory was called. when that happens the ordered fight must happen next. whoever refuses is demoted. it's actually a good rule. it's the main reason why ibf's mandatories and ratings are "trash" for many people. some good fighters don't want to follow strict rules and choose a different path (another belt). if ibf with it's current rules was the only body, it would be fantastic. there would be no other routes and the best would be forced to fight the best in every division every year to fill the #1 slot, #2 slot and mandatories would then be enforced every year.
frank warren: "it's short sighted." yes it is. but we can't blame ibf for following their rules. like they said, it would open a can of worms if they don't. you should only blame richard riakporhe for refusing to fight opetaia as a mandatory for the ibf and lineal title and more money only to fight dylan bregeon. briedis was ok with opetaia-zorro and his shot to come later. don't blame him at all.