U-turn leaves Opetaia title hunt in limbo on fight eve
Murray Wenzel |
Jai Opetaia’s unification quest has been tipped on its head on the eve of his Las Vegas debut after the IBF withdrew their sanctioning of the Australian champion’s world title defence.
The unbeaten cruiserweight (29-0) – Australia’s only current male boxing world champion – has been installed as the face of UFC supremo Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.
The 30-year-old NSW product, who is based on the Gold Coast, will fight American Brandon Glanton (21-3) for the rebel organisation’s first world title belt at the Meta Apex on Sunday (Monday AEST).
But he now faces the prospect of losing his IBF title status if the fight goes ahead, with the organisation declaring the belt could be vacated.
Initially White had said Zuffa would disrupt the boxing world by not recognising the traditional organisations.
But Opetaia, who has been unable to secure a unification bout since first winning his IBF and The Ring belts in July 2022, yearns for undisputed status and only signed on the condition White would help him achieve it.
There were suggestions the IBF would strip Opetaia of his status, or at least not consider the Glanton bout a defence if it went ahead.
Opetaia walked onto stage at Friday’s official pre-fight press conference with both the Ring and IBF straps on his shoulder, declaring both would be on the line alongside the Zuffa belt.
“Everyone’s spreading rumours but I’m grateful … it’s my dream to become undisputed and unless everyone works together I can’t accomplish that,” he told reporters at the MGM Grand.
“All that matters is that it’s on the line now.”
But hours later the IBF said it wasn’t, and that the title will be declared vacant if the fight goes ahead.
An IBF statement said initial sanctioning had been approved after assurances from Opetaia’s camp that the Zuffa belt awarded would be “characterised as a trophy or token of recognition”.
“The press conference held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, today (March 6) made it clear that the Zuffa World Cruiserweight title would still be contested,” the statement read.
“The organisation’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.
“The pursuit of undisputed status – by unifying the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO titles – represents the highest ambition in the sport.
“The IBF is committed to providing professional boxers worldwide with meaningful opportunities to advance their careers.”
It’s an ironic setback for Opetaia, who has unsuccessfully sought unification bouts while eating through other would-be challengers, stopping three alone just last year.
Other belt-holders in his division have repeatedly dodged him, leading Opetaia and long-time manager Mick Francis of Tasman Fighters to team with White.
Opetaia has already vacated his IBF strap once, when he met Ellis Zorro in an unsanctioned fight while his mandatory opponents were injured. Opetaia won the belt straight back when he beat Mairis Briedis in a rematch.
White has promised to do what former promoter Eddie Hearn of British powerhouse Matchroom Boxing couldn’t, and make Opetaia “absolutely legendary”.
AAP