BoxRec

Apparently he’s been stripped.

IBF declines to sanction Jai Opetaia vs Brandon Glanton

Jai Opetaia will be stripped of his IBF title if he proceeds with Sunday’s bout against Brandon Glanton

After days of speculation, Zuffa Boxing claimed at today’s press conference that both Jai Opetaia’s IBF cruiserweight belt and the promotion’s new titular title would be on the line when Opetaia met Brandon Glanton this weekend. Turns out that may have been premature, as the IBF has now withdrawn its sanctioning.

Per the sanctioning body’s press release, Opetaia’s (29-0, 23 KO) team claimed that “any belt awarded by Zuffa would be ‘characterized as a trophy or token of recognition.’” The statement from the press conference contradicted that claim and made clear that organizers were treating it as a title unification, conflicting with the IBF’s rules and prompting them to deem the fight an “Unsanctioned Contest.”

Should Opetaia proceed with the fight, “the title will be declared vacant whether the Champion wins or loses the bout.”

Opetaia has been vocal about his desire to unify with fellow titlist Noel Mikaelian and “Zurdo” Ramirez, making this a gigantic blow to his ambitions. It was, unfortunately, also a predictable one; Zuffa publicly and proudly claimed that they would not work with the four sanctioning bodies, which strikes me as the kind of move you make after you’ve established yourself as a player of similar caliber. It’s unclear whether they failed to consider the implications of their stance or just expected the IBF, boxing’s patron saints of following rules-as-written wherever they lead, to roll over.

Whatever the case, Opetaia now has a choice to make, as do the rest of the boxers Turki and co. snatched up during their recent signing spree. Whether they like it or not, the four belts represent a level of prestige in the boxing world that the Zuffa title simply does not at this stage of their attempted takeover. Or at least, like, two of them do. Three if you squint.

Dana: "I'm gonna give you the chance to be undisputed. I promise."
Also Dana: "Obviously, I meant undisputed Zuffa world champion. What did you think?"

Jai benavidez beterbiev - any combination of these three names would be an absolute super fight for the ages. We’re talking a Hagler Hearns level of intensity.

They need to stop f*cking around with these nothing fights, wasting time, and let bivol go off and fight people we’ve never heard of because the guy is brilliant but boring. Better yet he fights, ( and beats ) the last man standing out of these three gladiators.

Hopefully the idiot PlayStation Turki gets it on, or someone else better asap

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑07 Mar 2026, 05:33 IBF declines to sanction Jai Opetaia vs Brandon Glanton

Jai Opetaia will be stripped of his IBF title if he proceeds with Sunday’s bout against Brandon Glanton

After days of speculation, Zuffa Boxing claimed at today’s press conference that both Jai Opetaia’s IBF cruiserweight belt and the promotion’s new titular title would be on the line when Opetaia met Brandon Glanton this weekend. Turns out that may have been premature, as the IBF has now withdrawn its sanctioning.

Per the sanctioning body’s press release, Opetaia’s (29-0, 23 KO) team claimed that “any belt awarded by Zuffa would be ‘characterized as a trophy or token of recognition.’” The statement from the press conference contradicted that claim and made clear that organizers were treating it as a title unification, conflicting with the IBF’s rules and prompting them to deem the fight an “Unsanctioned Contest.”

Should Opetaia proceed with the fight, “the title will be declared vacant whether the Champion wins or loses the bout.”

Opetaia has been vocal about his desire to unify with fellow titlist Noel Mikaelian and “Zurdo” Ramirez, making this a gigantic blow to his ambitions. It was, unfortunately, also a predictable one; Zuffa publicly and proudly claimed that they would not work with the four sanctioning bodies, which strikes me as the kind of move you make after you’ve established yourself as a player of similar caliber. It’s unclear whether they failed to consider the implications of their stance or just expected the IBF, boxing’s patron saints of following rules-as-written wherever they lead, to roll over.

Whatever the case, Opetaia now has a choice to make, as do the rest of the boxers Turki and co. snatched up during their recent signing spree. Whether they like it or not, the four belts represent a level of prestige in the boxing world that the Zuffa title simply does not at this stage of their attempted takeover. Or at least, like, two of them do. Three if you squint.

I have to begrudgingly respect the IBF on this one. They have specific rules in place for unification bouts with the other organizations' champions and made Opetaia's team aware of them. All appeared in order, although Opetaia did show up at a press conference without the IBF belt. However, it now feels like Opetaia's team and/or Zuffa strung the IBF along on the pretense that the organization wouldn't pull the sanctioning at the last minute when it became obvious the Zuffa title was to be considered more than just a trinket or trophy like one of those made-up "special" WBC belts.

Unfortunately, I think we're only going to see more of this in the future as the alphabet organization knock heads with Zuffa.

I could not care less about some IBF belt. 8 evenly matched fights which i can watch free on youtube. Love this And mark my words, some of those fights would be excellent.

I predict that Benavidez or Zurdo go undisputed and Opetaia will call them a duck from behind the walls of Zuffa

Cent0089 wrote: ↑07 Mar 2026, 09:35 I could not care less about some IBF belt. 8 evenly matched fights which i can watch free on youtube. Love this And mark my words, some of those fights would be excellent.

Unfortunately for me, I probably care more than I should about titles and belts, ignoring all that interim and gold and whatever nonsense.

However, I do agree with you about evenly-matched fights that I don't have to pay for. I have to admit, so far, Zuffa has put on some entertaining bouts between solid - but not necessarily great - boxers, and I would much rather see those types of fights than the latest-and-greatest padding his record against some overmatched no-hoper.

MPW wrote: ↑07 Mar 2026, 09:57

Cent0089 wrote: ↑07 Mar 2026, 09:35 I could not care less about some IBF belt. 8 evenly matched fights which i can watch free on youtube. Love this And mark my words, some of those fights would be excellent.

Unfortunately for me, I probably care more than I should about titles and belts, ignoring all that interim and gold and whatever nonsense.

However, I do agree with you about evenly-matched fights that I don't have to pay for. I have to admit, so far, Zuffa has put on some entertaining bouts between solid - but not necessarily great - boxers, and I would much rather see those types of fights than the latest-and-greatest padding his record against some overmatched no-hoper.

What is even better, quality of those Zuffa cards are rising. First one was pretty meh, third one, i watched whole card and was pretty entertained from start to finish.

Btw. I am probably only one here who never ever saw Opetaia fight. And saw Glanton 3 fights. How good is Opetaia in your opinion? Because this Glanton guy is no bum i am telling you that.

Opetaia to lose IBF title if he fights for Zuffa belt

Jai Opetaia is set to lose his IBF cruiserweight title if he goes ahead with a fight against Brandon Glanton on Sunday.

Opetaia is scheduled to fight Glanton for the inaugural Zuffa Boxing World Cruiserweight title but the IBF said it has "withdrawn sanction of the optional defence" for its belt.

The IBF said that it had initially approved the bout as Opetaia's team had told them the Zuffa Boxing fight in Las Vegas would not be a unification bout and that any belt awarded would be "characterised as a trophy or token of recognition".

However, it added that following a news conference on Friday, it was "made it clear that the Zuffa World Cruiserweight title would still be contested" and, as the IBF does not recognise Zuffa Boxing, it was now an unsanctioned fight.

"For the purpose of unification of titles, the preeminent champions of the World Boxing Association (WBA), the World Boxing Council (WBC), and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) may be designated as 'elite contenders' and may be permitted to fight for the unified title," said the IBF in a statement.

It added: "An unsanctioned contest is a fight which the IBF has not formally approved for sanction or where sanction has been formally withdrawn.

"If a champion participates in an unsanctioned contest within his prescribed weight limit, the title will be declared vacant whether the champion wins or loses the bout."

Australian Opetaia, 30, also holds the Ring cruiserweight title.

Zuffa Boxing is backed by UFC chief Dana White. It staged its first event in January and has vowed to transform professional boxing.

White's ultimate aim is to sideline the four traditional sanctioning bodies - WBO, WBC, IBF and WBA - and make Zuffa's belt the premier world title alongside the Ring Magazine title, an organisation owned by Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh.

Apart from having signed Opetaia, Zuffa Boxing also recently secured British boxer Conor Benn, who left Matchroom Boxing to join them.

Cent0089 wrote: ↑07 Mar 2026, 10:35

MPW wrote: ↑07 Mar 2026, 09:57

Cent0089 wrote: ↑07 Mar 2026, 09:35 I could not care less about some IBF belt. 8 evenly matched fights which i can watch free on youtube. Love this And mark my words, some of those fights would be excellent.

Unfortunately for me, I probably care more than I should about titles and belts, ignoring all that interim and gold and whatever nonsense.

However, I do agree with you about evenly-matched fights that I don't have to pay for. I have to admit, so far, Zuffa has put on some entertaining bouts between solid - but not necessarily great - boxers, and I would much rather see those types of fights than the latest-and-greatest padding his record against some overmatched no-hoper.

What is even better, quality of those Zuffa cards are rising. First one was pretty meh, third one, i watched whole card and was pretty entertained from start to finish.

Btw. I am probably only one here who never ever saw Opetaia fight. And saw Glanton 3 fights. How good is Opetaia in your opinion? Because this Glanton guy is no bum i am telling you that.

I think Opetaia is the real deal, a southpaw with good power and decent movement, although he does get nailed every so often. Outside of his bouts with Briedis, he has been criticized for the level of his competition, but he can't fight boxers who aren't willing to get in the ring with him for whatever reason. There is talk of him moving up to heavyweight, but I think he would be on the smaller side compared to some of today's massive heavyweights. For those who say Usyk was able to do it, I'm not quite ready to put Opetaia at that same level.

As for Glanton, unlike many, I think he will provide the Aussie with a stern test, although he may not win. His three losses (a SD, a MD, and a UD) were to fighters with a combined record of 42-2, and the Russian who won the MD ultimately got a 6-year suspension for a failed drug test. He's beat some decent boxers, but not great ones.

MPW wrote: ↑07 Mar 2026, 11:23

Cent0089 wrote: ↑07 Mar 2026, 10:35

MPW wrote: ↑07 Mar 2026, 09:57

Unfortunately for me, I probably care more than I should about titles and belts, ignoring all that interim and gold and whatever nonsense.

However, I do agree with you about evenly-matched fights that I don't have to pay for. I have to admit, so far, Zuffa has put on some entertaining bouts between solid - but not necessarily great - boxers, and I would much rather see those types of fights than the latest-and-greatest padding his record against some overmatched no-hoper.

What is even better, quality of those Zuffa cards are rising. First one was pretty meh, third one, i watched whole card and was pretty entertained from start to finish.

Btw. I am probably only one here who never ever saw Opetaia fight. And saw Glanton 3 fights. How good is Opetaia in your opinion? Because this Glanton guy is no bum i am telling you that.

I think Opetaia is the real deal, a southpaw with good power and decent movement, although he does get nailed every so often. Outside of his bouts with Briedis, he has been criticized for the level of his competition, but he can't fight boxers who aren't willing to get in the ring with him for whatever reason. There is talk of him moving up to heavyweight, but I think he would be on the smaller side compared to some of today's massive heavyweights. For those who say Usyk was able to do it, I'm not quite ready to put Opetaia at that same level.

OT a bit but how would Opetaia fare at heavyweight if he had his jaw broken by a cruiserweight (although admittedly a pretty destructive one in Briedis)? Heavyweights are going to be punching harder than that. or is it a non-issue?

Weights

Jai Opetaia - 199.5 lbs
Brandon Glanton - 200.0 lbs

Per Zuffa, the IBF sanction fees were paid and supervisor Levi Martinez had flown in from New Mexico and was on site in Las Vegas and all was fine with #OpetaiaGlanton being sanctioned for the title. Also, the belt was displayed on the dais and listed on the graphics of the stream of the presser. At some point after the presser the IBF posted on its website the announcement it would not be sanctioned. So what changed? #boxing

More controversy



Per source, the IBF pulled sanction and sent supervisor home after presser because IBF president Daryl Peoples felt disrespected by how the belt was positioned as secondary to the Zuffa belt at presser even though Jai had the belt prominently displayed and was holding it during the face off. Peoples wrote in an email to officials saying that was why the title sanction was being pulled. Said he was very disappointed. I’ve got no dog in this fight. But that’s what happened. I only feel bad for Opetaia whose goal is to win all the belts. Sanction being pulled has nothing to do with that rule the IBF specified because the rule was on the books when IBF sanctioned the fight in the first place. And the rule only is about non-trophy belts which until the Ali Act amendment becomes law IS a trophy belt. #boxing #OpetaiaGlanton

Per source, Opetaia and Glanton will still adhere to a fight morning weight check under the same rules of the IBF in that neither can be more than 10 pounds above the division limit of 200.

IBF TO STRIP JAI OPETAIA WHEN HE FIGHTS BRANDON GLANTON ON SUNDAY

The moment Jai Opetaia steps into the ring on Sunday night, the IBF will take action.

The sanctioning body has officially declared that it will strip Opetaia, who also holds The Ring’s cruiserweight belt, of his title if he proceeds with his bout against Brandon Glanton at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, the main event of Zuffa Boxing 4.

After weeks of mulling it over, the IBF initially decided to sanction Opetaia-Glanton as an optional title defense.

The IBF’s longstanding issue surrounds the Zuffa Boxing title being contested, as it is not among the four major sanctioning bodies and has been deemed a “championship,” forcing the IBF to take action.

Although Team Opetaia reached out to the IBF, assuring it that the Zuffa title would be characterized as a trophy or token title, Friday’s press conference in Las Vegas proved otherwise when the IBF, Ring and Zuffa championships were showcased.

Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) will therefore be stripped of the IBF crown for a second time, according to a statement the IBF released late Friday night. He was first stripped of his championship status after agreeing to box unranked British contender Ellis Zorro, rather than taking an immediate mandatory defense against former champion Mairis Briedis - who he beat for a second time five months later.

Opetaia nonetheless stands to make the eighth defense of his Ring championship reign. Atlanta’s Glanton (21-3, 18 KOs) is The Ring’s No. 10 contender
.
The heavily favored champion headed toward this contest believing everyone was on the same page. The 30-year-old Opetaia told The Ring's Keith Idec earlier this week that all three titles would be up for grabs, disputing reports to the contrary suggesting the IBF had given him an ultimatum.

The IBF cited part of its rule that states only recognized WBA, WBC and WBO world champions have “elite contender” designation and would be permitted to fight IBF titleholders in a unification fight, which excludes a new player in Zuffa.

Now, another unwelcome change has hit deep into fight week. An excerpt from the IBF statement read:
“The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has withdrawn sanction of the optional defense of the IBF cruiserweight title between champion Jai Opetaia and #15 ranked contender Brandon Glanton scheduled for March 8, 2026. 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 on March 8. The IBF reserves the right to sanction title bouts alongside other sanctioning bodies that comply with the same mandated regulations followed by the organization.

“With sanction withdrawn, Opetaia-Glanton is now an Unsanctioned Contest. IBF Rule 5.H states in part - "An Unsanctioned Contest is a fight which the IBF has not formally approved for sanction or where sanction has been formally withdrawn. If a Champion participates in an unsanctioned contest within his prescribed weight limit, the title will be declared vacant whether the Champion wins or loses the bout.”

OPETAIA PAID SANCTIONING FEE UP FRONT, STILL HOPES TO DEFEND IBF BELT

Jai Opetaia prominently displayed his IBF cruiserweight championship belt again after he made weight Saturday morning, less than 12 hours after the IBF announced it wouldn’t approve his bout with Brandon Glanton on Sunday night as a title fight.

The Ring has learned Australia’s Opetaia is holding out hope that the IBF will change its stance at the 11th hour and sanction the Glanton bout because his ultimate goal remains to become undisputed champion, which would require the undefeated southpaw to hold on to his IBF belt.

Opetaia paid a sanctioning fee in excess of $80,000 in advance to the IBF. His new promoter, Zuffa Boxing, also provided the IBF’s supervisor with a hotel suite in Las Vegas for fight week, a customary practice when sanctioning organizations oversee championship matches.

It is unclear why the IBF changed its position so close to fight night on allowing Opetaia to fight for its title, along with The Ring and Zuffa Boxing belts. The IBF indicated in its abovementioned statement that because it doesn’t recognize Zuffa Boxing as a sanctioning organization in its bylaws that it would not sanction Opetaia-Glanton as a unification fight and would therefore strip Opetaia of its title.

Opetaia’s IBF and Ring championships were displayed on stage during their final press conference Friday night at MGM Grand, as was the Zuffa Boxing belt.

Zuffa Boxing continued to support Opetaia’s position Saturday and still planned to move forward with an IBF-mandated second-day weigh-in Sunday morning.

The IBF is the only one of boxing’s four major governing bodies that requires second-day weigh-ins, which prohibit champions and challengers from gaining more than 10 pounds above a division’s limit a day after fighters weigh in. In this case, neither Opetaia nor Glanton would be allowed to weigh more than 210 pounds Sunday morning if the IBF were to reverse course and sanction their bout.

The IBF supervisor assigned to the Opetaia-Glanton fight did not attend their weigh-in Saturday morning.

Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) expressed to at least part of Zuffa Boxing’s leadership group, which includes Ring owner Turki Alalshikh, when he signed with the upstart promotional company that he wants to keep his IBF title and continue to pursue the WBA, WBC and WBO belts. Zuffa Boxing’s decision-makers ultimately want their belts to be recognized as the belts in boxing, but accepted Opetaia’s position on becoming a fully unified champion.

Regardless, he will defend his Ring title for the eighth time against Atlanta’s Glanton (21-3, 18 KOs) and they will fight for the first Zuffa Boxing belt in any division in a 12-round main event Paramount+ will stream from Meta Apex, UFC’s performance complex in Las Vegas.

Main undercard coverage is scheduled to start Sunday on Paramount+ at 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET).

Anyone know why this is on a Sunday?

Ibf can’t say this is an ok defence then strip him because they are sad where they placed there belt…

JC wrote: ↑08 Mar 2026, 02:56 Anyone know why this is on a Sunday?

Cus UFC is on Saturday.

gregregegg wrote: ↑08 Mar 2026, 04:11 Ibf can’t say this is an ok defence then strip him because they are sad where they placed there belt…

I'm okay with it. When you openly talk about destroying their business model, you have to be careful.

Respect to the ibf on this one. Hopefully if their rules wbo/wba are treated with the same contempt they take the same stance.

Sendo Takeshi wrote: ↑08 Mar 2026, 06:38

gregregegg wrote: ↑08 Mar 2026, 04:11 Ibf can’t say this is an ok defence then strip him because they are sad where they placed there belt…

I'm okay with it. When you openly talk about destroying their business model, you have to be careful.

I have to agree with the IBF on this one. Yeah, it looks petty to pull the sanctioning due to its title belt placement during a press conference, but Opetaia was not adhering to the organization's rules regarding unification fights, since Zuffa is not recognized by any of the alphabet orgs. He and his team had supposedly been advised of that provision. If that is, indeed, the primary reason for withdrawing the sanctioning and then the perceived disrespect from Zuffa just made the decision easier for the IBF, I couldn't really argue with that.

On the flip side, I hope the sanctioning fees will be refunded to whomever paid them up front.

Jai Opetaia and Brandon Glanton to comply with day two weigh-in

Jai Opetaia has insisted on carrying himself like the defending IBF titlist, even if the sanctioning body is prepared to cease recognition of his reign.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that Australia’s Opetaia, 29-0 (23 KOs), and Atlanta’s Brandon Glanton, 21-3 (18 KOs), plan to weigh in a second time Sunday morning for a rehydration weight check customary with IBF title fights. The decision was made despite a prior ruling from the organization withdrawing its sanctioning from Sunday’s “Zuffa Boxing 04” main event.

Opetaia is still the recognized lineal and Ring Magazine champion, while the inaugural Zuffa championship is also at stake – the latter of which became a breaking point for the IBF.

Both Opetaia and Glanton were on weight at Saturday’s official pre-fight weigh-in ahead of their scheduled 12-round championship clash on Paramount+ from the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. Opetaia checked in at 199.5lbs, while Glanton came in right at the 200.0lbs mark.

Per IBF rules, participants must commit to a second weigh-in, often conducted on the morning of the fight. A 10lbs rehydration limit is imposed for all divisions from 140lbs on downward. From welterweight and up, it proportionally grows; IBF cruiserweight title fights carry a maximum same-day weight limit of 214lbs.

The decision was made since both boxers were already prepared to go this route and Opetaia technically still holds the IBF title, at least until he enters the ring on Sunday. As thoroughly outlined by BS on Friday, IBF president Daryl Peoples ruled that the New Jersey-based organization withdrew its sanctioning from the event.

The explanation offered was that Opetaia’s team informed the IBF that Sunday’s fight wasn’t to be considered a unification bout; rather, an IBF and Ring championship title defense, with the inaugural Zuffa belt viewed more as “a trophy or token of recognition.”

Event promotion has suggested anything but that. Zuffa went out of its way to bill the fight as being for “The Inaugural Zuffa Boxing Cruiserweight World Championship” as recently as in a Ring Magazine post on March 5 that was reposted by Zuffa’s social channel.

Opetaia openly mentioned the IBF and his desire to become undisputed champion. His stance even forced Zuffa – which has no desire to work with sanctioning bodies and whose business model does not recognize them – to comply with his wishes and allow the belt to be on display during Friday’s press conference at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Zuffa even noted that all three belts – IBF, Ring, Zuffa – were “all up for grabs” on Friday.

Additionally, BS has learned that Zuffa agreed to IBF rules, flying in a supervisor via first-class and putting him up in a hotel suite for fight week. A sanctioning fee in excess of $80,000 was reportedly wired to the IBF on Thursday and has since been received.

Somewhere in that span, the IBF decided to walk away from the fight and instructed its supervisor (Levi Martinez, of New Mexico) to no longer oversee the event.

Sunday’s second-day weigh-in will be administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and supervised by Zuffa Boxing.

Opetaia will make his eighth defense of the lineal championship and Ring Magazine title he claimed in a July 2022 victory over Mairis Briedis. He also earned the IBF belt that evening but was stripped of the title in December 2023 for facing an unranked challenger (Ellis Zorro) and additionally failing to comply with an ordered mandatory title defense versus Briedis.

The IBF belt was back at stake for Opetaia just one fight later, when he faced Briedis a second time and won their May 2024 rematch via unanimous decision. He has since made five successful defenses but appears to be at the end of his second reign once the bell sounds Sunday evening in Vegas.