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

[Eff Pandas]

mandatory was called. when that happens the ordered fight must happen next

That makes since if Briedis is ready to fight. The fact that he isn't is the thing. Everything about this seems like its a easy solve. Let Jai fight a non title fight & when Breidis can fight make that fight for the belt.

[dan-b]

That makes since if Briedis is ready to fight. The fact that he isn't is the thing. Everything about this seems like its a easy solve. Let Jai fight a non title fight & when Breidis can fight make that fight for the belt.

This is the part I understand least. If the IBF didn't want to sanction a Zorro fight because he's not in the top 15 then I understand, but why was Opetaia required to vacate the title?

[drablj]

That makes since if Briedis is ready to fight. The fact that he isn't is the thing. Everything about this seems like its a easy solve. Let Jai fight a non title fight & when Breidis can fight make that fight for the belt.

that's why agree with warren this was short sighted. ibf are very rigid. if opetaia wins without much damage this weekend (as expected), they probably plan his next fight for march or april. by that time briedis would be ready and they could fight. jai could easily fight zorro AND briedis in the same time frame, briedis was ok with that and ibf would collect fees 2 times. they pressed him to fight only once (briedis in march/april probably), to earn less money, to be less active, they would collect 1 fee less and it would be the same for briedis. it's lose-lose-lose-same situation really.

long story short: it was either zorro in december AND briedis in march/april or only briedis in march/april. everybody who likes the latter option (less activity and less money) more is simply a hater.