After weeks of uncertainty, the sanctioning body approved the voluntary defense after being assured by Opetaia’s team that the fight would not be a unification and that any belt awarded by Zuffa related to the contest would be “characterized as a trophy or token of recognition.”
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However, in the final press conference of Opetaia vs. Glanton on Friday, it was announced that Zuffa’s world cruiserweight title will still be on the line in Sunday’s fight at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. As a result, the IBF withdrew its sanction.
According to IBF Rule 5.E.2:
For the purposes of title unification, the preeminent champions of the World Boxing Association (“WBA”), the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) and the World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) may be designated as “elite contenders” and may be permitted to fight for the unified title.
Zuffa Boxing is not a recognized sanctioning body. The IBF works with the traditional boxing sanctioning bodies of the WBA, WBC and WBO for unification fights and may, at its own discretion, refuse to sanction your title for any fight that has another title at stake.
“The IBF reserves the right to sanction title fights alongside other sanctioning bodies that comply with the same mandatory regulations followed by the organization,” the IBF said in a statement provided to Uncrowned.
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With the sanction lifted by the IBF, Opetaia will be stripped of his cruiserweight title if he continues with Sunday’s Paramount+ main card against Glanton, which serves as his Zuffa Boxing debut.
According to Rule 5.H. from the IBF:
An Unsanctioned Competition is a fight whose sanction has not been formally approved by the IBF or where the sanction has been formally withdrawn. If a Champion participates in an unauthorized fight within his prescribed weight limit, the title will be declared vacant whether the Champion wins or loses the fight.
Opetaia has repeatedly insisted that his goal in boxing is to win the four traditional belts and become the undisputed cruiserweight champion. Therefore, it was a surprise when the Australian signed with Zuffa, because Zuffa said it would not recognize boxing’s four sanctioning bodies.
Uncrowned understands that the IBF has not had direct contact with any Zuffa Boxing representatives. Opetaia’s team, including his manager Matt Clark and co-promoter Mick Francis, worked to try to put the IBF title on the line for the Glanton fight, so that Opetaia’s dreams of being undisputed would remain alive, although they now appear to be a long way off.