Jai Opetaia’s IBF cruiserweight title in doubt after winning Zuffa Boxing belt

Jai Opetaia could be stripped of his IBF cruiserweight belt after he defeated Brandon Glanton to win the inaugural Zuffa world cruiserweight title.

The Australian won via unanimous decision at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Sunday, with all three judges scoring the fight 119-106.

However, the bout had not been sanctioned by the IBF and Opetaia might now lose that title.

The IBF had initially approved the fight after Opetaia’s team had told them it would not be a unification bout and that any belt awarded would be “characterised as a trophy or token of recognition”.

But, following a news conference on Friday, the IBF said it was “made clear that the Zuffa world cruiserweight title would still be contested” and the governing body, which does not recognise Zuffa Boxing, withdrew its sanction.

The IBF added: “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, who signed with Zuffa Boxing in January with the goal to become undisputed at cruiserweight, won every round in his first fight in the United States.

“I know there’s been a lot of white noise, a lot of stuff on social media, but I’m just hoping it gets worked out, and we can still chase that goal,” Opetaia told ESPN.

“I have not lost track of it, and I never have. I’ve been stripped once before. I’ll get the belt back, and I’ll become undisputed.”

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.

Zuffa Boxing also recently secured British boxer Conor Benn, who left Matchroom Boxing to join them.