Zuffa Boxing
The drama surrounding the IBF is coming to a head on Sunday.
On Friday, Opetaia presented the IBF title belt at the Zuffa Boxing 4 press conference and had every intention of defending it with the understanding.
“Don’t listen to everything you see on the internet, man. Everyone’s spreading rumors. I’m very grateful that the boys have been on board. It’s my dream to become undisputed. Unless everyone works together toward that dream, I can’t accomplish that,” said Opetaia.”
The IBF title WILL be on the line this Sunday‼️#ZuffaBoxing04 | 🏆: @JaiOpetaia1 pic.twitter.com/yvXplzz1hR
— Zuffa_Boxing (@Zuffa_Boxing) March 7, 2026
After the Zuffa Boxing press conference, Dan Rafael reported that the IBF had planned to strip Opetaia for not following their rules by fighting in an “unsanctioned” contest.
BREAKING: Although Zuffa announced at the #OpetaiaGlanton presser on Friday night that the IBF title would be on the line it won’t be. The IBF announced that Opetaia will be stripped for not following its rules. Per IBF: “With sanction withdrawn, the Opetaia vs. Glanton bout is…
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) March 7, 2026
“With sanction withdrawn, the Opetaia vs. Glanton bout is now an Unsanctioned Contest,” the IBF said in a statement. “IBF Rule 5.H. states in part: ‘An Unsanctioned Contest is a fight which the IBF has not formally approved for sanction or where sanction has been formally withdrawn. If a Champion participates in an unsanctioned contest within his prescribed weight limit, the title will be declared vacant whether the Champion wins or loses the bout.”
We were on site for Zuffa Boxing’s final weigh-ins and spoke to a source close to the promotion who says Opetaia was caught off guard by the IBF stripping him.
According to the source, Opetaia had paid his sanctioning fees, and everything was good until the press conference.
Rafael went on to report that the IBF was unhappy with how their belt was presented at the press conference.
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…
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) March 7, 2026
On Saturday morning, Opetaia walked out with the IBF belt during his final faceoff against Glanton after the IBF said they planned to strip him.
@jzosports Jai Opetaia walks out with IBF belt during faceoff with Brandon Glanton after IBF said they were stripping him
According to our source, Opetaia still plans to comply with the IBF’s second-day weigh-in, hoping the IBF will change their mind about stripping him.