The International Boxing Federation has issued a lengthy official statement addressing the controversy surrounding Jai Opetaia’s cruiserweight title, detailing how the March 8 bout against Brandon Glanton was sanctioned, then withdrawn, and why the champion’s belt status remains unresolved.
The dispute centres on the role of Zuffa Boxing’s newly created championship. According to the IBF, the organisation initially denied sanction after Opetaia’s promoter of record, Mick Francis of Tasman Fighters, submitted an application. Discussions then shifted to a representative retained by Opetaia, with Sean Gibbons of Manny Pacquiao Promotions acting as mediator.
The IBF said it received verbal assurances from Gibbons that the IBF title would be the championship contested on fight night, and that the Zuffa belt would serve only as “a trophy or token of recognition.” A second bout application was filed on March 3 listing Manny Pacquiao Promotions as promoter, and the IBF formally sanctioned the fight on March 5. Sanction fees of $73,000 were wired from Knucklehead Boxing’s account and received on March 6.
Hours later, following a pre-fight press conference at the MGM Grand that made clear the inaugural Zuffa World Cruiserweight championship would be contested, the IBF withdrew sanction. It returned the $73,000 via wire transfer the following morning.
“The status of the IBF Cruiserweight Title remains in deliberation.”
The organisation added that Opetaia’s post-fight comments “have led the organization’s leadership to question whether he was made completely and fully aware by his advisors of the decisions he needed to make.” The IBF said it intends to investigate further.
Opetaia (26-0, 20 KOs) won the fight by unanimous decision. Whether it will count as an IBF title defence is still an open question.
Rocha Returns With Shutout Over Diaz
Alexis Rocha (26-2-1, 16 KOs) marked his return from a 15-month layoff on March 15 with a one-sided unanimous decision over former IBF junior lightweight champion Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz (34-9-1, 16 KOs).
Rocha, a natural welterweight, controlled the fight from the opening bell. The size and power gap was apparent throughout, though Diaz drew cheers in the seventh round for absorbing sustained punishment and refusing to quit. Judges scored it 97-93, 98-92, and 100-90, all for Rocha.
The win re-establishes Rocha in the welterweight picture after a withdrawal from a scheduled January bout due to weight-cut issues.
Heavyweight Calendar Takes Shape
The heavyweight division’s spring and early summer schedule is now largely set, with three significant dates on the board.
Tyson Fury (34-2-1) faces Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11 in London, live on Netflix. Fury confirmed his return from retirement earlier this year, posting on social media: “2026 is that year. Return of the mac. Been away for a while but I’m back now, 37 years old and still punching.”
On May 9, Fabio Wardley defends his WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois in Manchester on DAZN pay-per-view. And on May 23, Oleksandr Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) puts his WBC heavyweight belt on the line against kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven (1-0, 1 KO) at a purpose-built venue near the Pyramids of Giza, also on DAZN PPV.
The domestic clash between Fury and Anthony Joshua remains uncertain. Plans for the pair to meet later in 2026 were disrupted after a car crash in Nigeria killed two close friends and members of Joshua’s team and left Joshua himself injured. No timeline for Joshua’s return has been confirmed.
