Opetaia Wins Zuffa Cruiserweight Title in IBF Dispute

Jai Opetaia secured a unanimous decision victory over Brandon Glanton on March 8 in Las Vegas, claiming the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight championship amid a heated dispute with the International Boxing Federation over title sanctioning. The Australian, who entered the bout as the reigning IBF cruiserweight titleholder with an undefeated record of 3-0 with 23 knockouts, dominated the 10-round fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena during Zuffa Boxing 4, earning scores of 100-90 across all three judges.

The matchup, originally positioned as an optional defense of Opetaia's IBF belt, unraveled in the days leading up to the event due to conflicting promotions surrounding the Zuffa title. Opetaia's team, including promoter Knucklehead Boxing and intermediary Sean Gibbons of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, submitted paperwork on March 3 assuring the IBF that the fight would solely contest the IBF strap, with the Zuffa belt serving as a symbolic award. The sanctioning body approved the bout on March 5 and received a $73,000 fee from Knucklehead Boxing the following day.

Tensions escalated later on March 6 during a prefight press conference, where Zuffa officials emphasized the...