Zuffa Boxing Announces Opetaia Title Fight Without IBF Mention

Zuffa Boxing’s announcement of Jai Opetaia’s promotional debut features a notable omission: the world title he already holds.

Opetaia, the reigning IBF cruiserweight champion, is scheduled to face Brandon Glanton on March 8 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas for the inaugural Zuffa Boxing Cruiserweight World Championship. The promotion’s announcement did not reference the IBF belt, despite Opetaia entering the bout as the established titleholder in the division.

Announcement Without Recognition

There has been no confirmation from Zuffa Boxing, Opetaia, or the IBF that the sanctioning body’s title will be on the line. The silence leaves the status of Opetaia’s championship unclear, even as Zuffa moves forward with plans to crown its first boxing champion.

Opetaia, unbeaten in 29 fights with 23 knockouts, signed with Zuffa Boxing last month as the promotion’s first major acquisition. Led by Dana White, Zuffa Boxing is introducing its own championship structure as it enters the sport, creating a parallel title system separate from the traditional sanctioning bodies.

The approach contrasts with Opetaia’s current standing. The Australian southpaw last defended his IBF title in December, stopping Huseyin Cinkara in eight rounds. He has previously expressed frustration over stalled unification efforts, a situation that played a role in his decision to sign with the new promotion.

Glanton, 21-3 with 18 knockouts, enters the bout following an October stoppage win over Marcus Browne. While durable and experienced, he has come up short in previous step up fights against Chris Billiam-Smith, Soslan Asbarov, and David Light, making him a controlled test for Zuffa’s first title fight rather than a disruptive one.

Unclear Status of IBF Title

As Zuffa Boxing prepares to award its inaugural championship, the unanswered question is whether Opetaia’s existing IBF title will be formally acknowledged, or whether the promotion intends for its first world belt to stand entirely on its own.