The IBF announced Friday it has withdrawn sanction for Jai Opetaia’s voluntary defense of his cruiserweight title against Brandon Glanton on Sunday in the Zuffa Boxing 4 headliner.
After weeks of uncertainty, the sanctioning body approved the voluntary defense after being assured by Opetaia’s team the fight would not be a unification and that any belt awarded by Zuffa pertaining to the contest would be “characterized as a trophy or token of recognition.”
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However, at the final press conference for Opetaia vs. Glanton on Friday, it was announced the Zuffa world cruiserweight title will still be on the line in Sunday’s bout at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. As a result, the IBF has withdrawn its sanction.
According to IBF Rule 5.E.2:
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.
Zuffa Boxing is not a recognized sanctioning body. The IBF works with the traditional WBA, WBC and WBO boxing sanctioning bodies for unification bouts and may, at its own discretion, refuse to sanction its title for any bout that has another title on the line.
“The IBF reserves the right to sanction title bouts alongside other sanctioning bodies that comply with the same mandated regulations followed by the organization,” the IBF said in a statement provided to Uncrowned.
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With the IBF withdrawing sanction, Opetaia will be stripped of his cruiserweight title if he goes ahead with Sunday’s Paramount+ headliner against Glanton, which will serves as his Zuffa Boxing debut.
According to IBF Rule 5.H.:
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Contest is a fight which the IBF has not formally approved for sanction or where sanction has been formally withdrawn.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 has repeatedly insisted his goal in boxing is to pick up the four traditional belts and become the undisputed champion at cruiserweight. Thus, it came as a shock when the Australian signed with Zuffa, because Zuffa said it would not recognize boxing’s four sanctioning bodies.
Uncrowned understands the IBF has had no direct contact with any representatives from Zuffa Boxing. Opetaia’s team, including manager Matt Clark and co-promoter Mick Francis, worked to try to get the IBF title on the line for the bout vs. Glanton so Opetaia’s dreams of undisputed would remain alive, although now they look to be a long way away.