The International Boxing Federation (IBF), one of boxing‘s four major alphabet sanctioning bodies, has stripped Jai Opetaia, 30, of his championship status in another escalation in the ongoing power battle between the sport’s establishment and the upstart fight firm Zuffa Boxing.
The decision means Opetaia loses the IBF cruiserweight championship not in the ring — he remains unbeaten following 30 fights, after all — but because the US-based organization ruled his last fight, a lopsided decision win against Brandon Glanton at the UFC-owned facility Meta APEX in Las Vegas, an “unsanctioned contest”, which, per the IBF’s own rules, declares the champion’s title, under Rule 5.H, “vacant whether the champion wins or loses the bout.”
Opetaia won the fight. And it was a meaningful night for Zuffa Boxing, which awarded the Australian fighter its inaugural championship in the division.
The IBF initially denied sanction for the bout, before granting conditional approval on the understanding that no rival title would be promoted. That position changed following a Las Vegas press conference, when the fight was billed with the Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship on the line.
Despite assurances from Opetaia’s representatives that any additional belt would be treated as “a trophy or token of recognition,” the IBF determined those terms had been breached and withdrew its approval of the fight.
In a statement released on its website, the IBF said its Board of Directors “voted to vacate the title” in March.
It added: “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.
“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.”
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