Opetaia initiated the bout using his jab, maneuvering past Glanton’s advances, and precisely delivering the straight left punch whenever the American sought to engage in close combat. Glanton consistently moved forward yet found it difficult to connect effectively, as Opetaia maintained his movement and distance.
As the third round commenced, Opetaia had established his pace. He utilized his jab as a foundation, powered straight lefts down the center, and skillfully introduced quick uppercuts when Glanton entered striking distance. Compact hooks were then unleashed once he grounded himself to deliver his multi-punch sequences.
In the fifth round, Glanton advanced aggressively, aiming to compel a close-range brawl. Opetaia remained firm, launched powerful combinations, and incorporated strikes to the body before disengaging and re-establishing distance.
The referee issued a penalty to Glanton for excessive holding during the sixth round, a consequence of Opetaia’s increasing pressure and precise striking. Subsequently, in the eighth round, the American incurred a second point deduction for an illegal low blow.
Notwithstanding the penalties, Glanton persisted in his forward movement, attempting to initiate forceful trades. Opetaia responded with calculated footwork and counter-attacks, preserving his dominance in the match with well-executed straight punches and sequential strikes.
During the final championship rounds, Opetaia sustained his mastery over the fighting range. He targeted the opponent’s torso with powerful blows, landed straight lefts directly to the center, and delivered uppercuts past the defense each time Glanton encroached.
The ultimate round saw Opetaia conclude his display with a decisive straight left that momentarily stunned Glanton in the fight’s last minute. Glanton managed to stay upright until the concluding bell, yet the outcome was undeniably clear.
Throughout the twelve rounds, Opetaia connected with 250 strikes compared to Glanton’s 118. This triumph secured his pristine professional record and augmented his accolades with the initial Zuffa cruiserweight title, complementing his existing Ring championship.
