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Dana White had some choice words for the boxing world after this week’s Jai Opetaia IBF controversy.
Earlier this week, Opetaia learned he was getting his stripped of his IBF belt at the last minute because IBF officials felt their belt was being disrespected at Friday’s Zuffa Boxing press conference.
Via Dan Rafael/X
“Per source, the IBF pulled sanction and sent supervisor home after presser because IBF president Daryl Peoples felt disrespected by how the belt was positioned as secondary to the Zuffa belt at presser even though Jai had the belt prominently displayed and was holding it during the face off.”
On Sunday, Opetaia won the Zuffa Boxing championship, but was bothered about losing his IBF belt.
During his post-fight press conference, White trashed the IBF, and the rest of the boxing world for no
“There’s no doubt that he’s the best in the world and that he paid his sanctioning fees. They flew a guy out here and then saying they were disrespected at the press conference — the belt was in front of him the entire time and he held it in his hand when he did the face off. The Zuffa belt was in the middle because nobody had it. He had the other two belts and they were fighting for that one.”
“It’s pretty clear what they’re doing and what’s going on and I see lawsuits coming, that’s what I see. [Opetaia] wanted this. He wanted to fight for the belt. I mean, when you think about it, the guy has fought for the IBF title like 11 times or something, broke his jaw in two places one time and finished the fight, and that’s the way they’re going to do it? It’s very, very odd and very unprofessional. So we’ll see how this thing plays out.”
Dana White talks about the IBF stripping Jai Opetaia of his belt and says he sees “lawsuits coming”‼️ pic.twitter.com/BqJ3fjB7EY
— Source of Boxing (@Sourceofboxing) March 9, 2026
White went on to rip into the current state of boxing.
“Listen, this sport is broken for a reason. Everybody is a bunch of rinky-dink, I mean it’s the most f–king rinky-dink thing that I have ever seen in my life. I don’t know why I expected much from any of these people, but boy, let me tell you what: sh-t’s about to get good.”
Dana White on boxing: Listen, this sport is broken for a reason. Everybody is a bunch of rinky-dink, I mean it’s the most fucking rinky-dink thing that I have ever seen in my life. I don’t know why I expected much from any of these people, but boy, let me tell you what: shit’s… pic.twitter.com/jbvKQYfKaK
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) March 9, 2026