Jai Opetaia is about to lose his IBF cruiserweight title if he goes forward with a combat towards Brandon Glanton on Sunday.
Opetaia is scheduled to combat Glanton for the inaugural Zuffa Boxing World Cruiserweight title however the IBF stated it has “withdrawn sanction of the optionally available defence” for its belt.
The IBF stated that it had initially permitted the bout as Opetaia’s workforce had advised them the Zuffa Boxing combat in Las Vegas wouldn’t be a unification bout and that any belt awarded can be “characterised as a trophy or token of recognition”.
Nevertheless, it added that following a information convention on Friday, it was “made it clear that the Zuffa World Cruiserweight title would nonetheless be contested” and, because the IBF doesn’t recognise Zuffa Boxing, it was now an unsanctioned combat.
“For the aim of unification of titles, the preeminent champions of the World Boxing Affiliation (WBA), the World Boxing Council (WBC), and the World Boxing Group (WBO) could also be designated as ‘elite contenders’ and could also be permitted to combat for the unified title,” stated the IBF in a press release.
It added: “An unsanctioned contest is a combat which the IBF has not formally permitted for sanction or the place sanction has been formally withdrawn.
“If a champion participates in an unsanctioned contest inside his prescribed weight restrict, the title shall be declared vacant whether or not the champion wins or loses the bout.”
Australian Opetaia, 30, additionally holds the Ring cruiserweight title.
