Opetaia’s next assignment revealed, with UFC twist

Murray Wenzel |

Jai Opetaia wants to add another belt to his collection.
Jai Opetaia wants to add another belt to his collection.

Jai Opetaia has been promised his sought-after unification shot but first will look to add a new belt to his collection after the Australia’s Las Vegas debut was locked in.

The long-time Ring and IBF cruiserweight world champion will fight big-talking American Brandon Glanton on March 8, marking his first fight under new promoter Zuffa Boxing.

Co-founded by UFC boss Dana White, Zuffa Boxing is a stand-alone organisation that carries its own world championship status.

Opetaia will fight for the maiden Zuffa championship belt and put The Ring belt on the line against Glanton.

The Australian defended his belts three times last year, all with emphatic stoppages.

But, since first becoming a world champion in 2022, he’s been unable to land a unification fight.

Opetaia’s long-time manager and promoter Mick Francis told AAP he remained on good terms with the IBF and that White’s promise to Opetaia on signing the 30-year-old was that he would enable a unification run.

Francis said a date with WBC champion Noel Mikaelian later this year remained a priority.

“Jai wants to unify and he will; he’ll be the first to hold all the belts, including the Zuffa title,” Francis told AAP.

“Dana’s been great to work with.”

Opetaia proudly honours his Samoan heritage and Francis said he would tap into the large Pacific Island contingent on the west coast of the US.

Jai Opetaia
Jai Opetaia’s manager expects him to be a huge hit in the US. (Zain Mohammed/AAP PHOTOS)

“He’s going to blow up in the States,” Francis said.

Opetaia (29-0) and Atlanta’s Glanton (21-3) will be the main event at UFC’s Meta APEX Performance Center, a week after the NRL again takes over Allegiant Stadium on February 28.

Glanton beat Marcus Brown in Nigeria last October, a comeback fight after he was beaten by by former WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith in April.

That clash was overshadowed by the American’s crude pre-fight comments, claiming he would give the Brit brain damage.

The American conceded, after beating Brown, that he had learnt from that experience.

“I disrespected somebody in England, I’ll never do that again,” Glanton said.

AAP