According to the regulations of the International Boxing Federation (IBF), any reigning champion participating in an unapproved contest within their specific weight class will automatically forfeit their championship title.
Journalist Jake Donovan from BoxingScene subsequently conveyed that the IBF had initially given its consent for the match, following assurances from Opetaia’s team that any belt granted by Zuffa would merely be considered a ceremonial prize. However, this approval was revoked once the fight began to be marketed for a new championship title recently established by Zuffa.
“The contest between Opetaia and Glanton is now deemed an Unsanctioned Contest due to the withdrawal of its approval,” the IBF stated in an official declaration. The statement further elaborated, “Section 5.H. of the IBF rules clarifies: ‘An Unsanctioned Contest refers to a fight that the IBF has not officially authorized or for which authorization has been formally retracted. Should a Champion engage in an unsanctioned contest within their designated weight category, the championship will be declared vacant, irrespective of the outcome of the match.’”
This ruling renders the IBF cruiserweight championship unoccupied prior to the upcoming encounter. Consequently, neither Opetaia nor Glanton will have the opportunity to claim the title when they face each other.
Opetaia initially secured the IBF championship by triumphing over Mairis Briedis in 2022. He subsequently reacquired the title following a brief absence from the organization, continuing his tenure as one of the cruiserweight category’s most prominent titleholders.
Glanton approaches this fight as a debut challenger, aiming for the most significant victory of his professional career. The American competitor ascended through the cruiserweight rankings and was initially slated to vie for the championship prior to the withdrawal of its sanction.
Earlier that day, during the event’s concluding press conference, Opetaia had minimized the significance of championship belts, remarking that such titles merely “gather dust” and do not represent a fighter’s primary drive. The subsequent IBF declaration affirmed that the organization would not endorse the contest.
The fight will still proceed as planned under the Zuffa Boxing promotion, although the IBF championship will no longer be contested. The encounter will unfold as a non-championship cruiserweight match between the two combatants.
This decision leaves Jai Opetaia without the IBF championship and transforms the planned confrontation with Brandon Glanton into a non-championship cruiserweight bout.
