IBF Strips Jai Opetaia Again After Zuffa Title Fight, Cruiserweight Belt Vacant

The cruiserweight division has been thrown into turmoil once again. Jai Opetaia has officially been stripped of the IBF cruiserweight championship for a second time, following his decision to compete in a Zuffa Boxing title bout earlier this month. [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type="show" ihc_mb_who="reg" ihc_mb_template="1" ] The IBF confirmed Monday that Opetaia has been relieved of his title after facing Brandon Glanton on March 8 for the inaugural Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship. The sanctioning body withdrew its approval of the fight just days before it took place, citing concerns over how the Zuffa title was presented. According to the IBF, it had been led to believe the belt would be: A symbolic trophy Not a legitimate championship Not eligible for unification When that proved not to be the case, the IBF moved forward with disciplinary action. Fight Goes On Consequences Follow Despite the IBF’s withdrawal, the fight proceeded. Opetaia dominated Glanton en route to a wide unanimous decision victory, capturing the Zuffa title but losing his IBF belt in the process. The IBF later refunded approximately $73,000 in sanctioning fees before formally voting to strip Opetaia during a March 19 board meeting. https://twitter.com/ProBoxingFans/status/2036146689099063801 IBF Stands Firm on Rules In its official statement, the IBF emphasized that the decision was based strictly on its regulations not opinion. “The IBF’s rules don’t always yield the preferred or popular outcome, but they provide structure and transparency,” the organization stated. The message was clear: Fighters must follow mandatory obligations and sanctioning guidelines regardless of outside opportunities. A Familiar Situation for Opetaia This isn’t the first time Opetaia has lost the IBF title outside the ring. In 2023, he was also stripped after choosing to fight Ellis Zorro instead of fulfilling a mandatory defense against Mairis Briedis. Now, history repeats itself raising questions about Opetaia’s relationship with sanctioning bodies moving forward. [/ihc-hide-content] https://dicecitysports.com/2026/03/25/dallas-cowboys-made-strong-push-for-maxx-crosby-but-fell-short/ Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily! Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26

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IBF Strips Jai Opetaia Again After Zuffa Title Fight, Cruiserweight Belt Vacant

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