The 30-year-old left-handed boxer, Opetaia, is making this transition after a busy 2025. Throughout that year, he secured three wins, each ending by knockout against fighters who had not previously lost. His most recent bout took place on December 6 at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, where he defeated Huseyin Cinkara, the IBF’s mandatory challenger, via knockout.
The fight mentioned was initially delayed earlier in the year due to Cinkara’s withdrawal because of an ankle injury. Consequently, Opetaia instead fought David Nyika the previous January, stopping him within four rounds. In the interim period between those contests, Opetaia overcame Italian challenger Claudio Squeo with a fifth-round stoppage, although this particular match garnered minimal attention and underscored the challenges he has encountered in arranging bouts with other cruiserweight titleholders.
Since his unanimous decision victory over Mairis Briedis in July 2022, Opetaia has been the holder of the lineal and Ring championships in the division. His initial tenure as the IBF champion concluded administratively in late 2023 when he was divested of the title for engaging in a non-mandatory defense. He then re-secured the championship in May 2024, once again by decisioning Briedis, and has since compiled a record of four successive title defenses, each concluding with a knockout. This streak notably features a sixth-round stoppage of Jack Massey in Riyadh during October 2024.
The operational strategy of Zuffa Boxing raises uncertainties. The promotional entity has declared its intention to avoid collaboration with established sanctioning organizations. Its initial three spectacles are scheduled for broadcast on Paramount Plus, originating from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, commencing on January 23 with a contest between Callum Walsh and Carlos Ocampo. An event scheduled for February 1 currently lacks a primary attraction, succeeded by a February 14 program featuring heavyweights Efe Ajagba and Charles Martin as the main bout.
Presently, none of the pugilists revealed by Zuffa are participating in events governed by official sanctioning organizations. This position presents a considerable divergence from Opetaia’s long-held ambition to completely consolidate the cruiserweight class, particularly since unified WBA and WBO belt holder Gilberto Ramirez and WBC champion Noel Mikaeljan continue their careers outside this new framework.
This acquisition lends legitimacy to Zuffa. However, it remains uncertain whether this development offers a straightforward progression for Opetaia.
