Boxing Mar 11, 2026

Jai Opetaia wins Zuffa world cruiserweight championship and now determined to unify the division

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Jai Opetaia wins Zuffa world cruiserweight championship and now determined to unify the division

Jai Opetaia breezed past Brandon Glanton to become the inaugural Zuffa world cruiserweight champion with a unanimous-decision win in Nevada.

All three judges scored the fight 119-106 in the Australian's favour as he extended his unbeaten record as a professional to 30-0 in his first fight in the United States.

Opetaia could be stripped of the IBF cruiserweight championship after that body refused to sanction this latest bout but he is aiming to unify the division, saying afterwards: "I'm chasing the belts.

"I know there's been a lot of white noise and stuff, a lot of stuff on social media, but I'm just hoping it gets worked out and we can still chase that goal.

"I have not lost track of it. I've been stripped once before. I've been stripped again. I'll get the belt back, and I'll become undisputed."

Although Opetaia was unable to add to his 23 career knockout victories, he dominated Glanton with powerful shots - uppercuts proving particularly effective.

Glanton was deducted points in rounds six and eight for holding and low blows as he struggled to land any meaningful offensive strikes.

To his credit, Glanton refused to buckle and came through a potent left hand in the final round to avoid the knockout before suffering his fourth career defeat.

Tags:

boxing news

Share this article

Related Posts

Emanuel Navarrete stops Eduardo Nunez to unify super-featherweight world titles

Emanuel Navarrete stops Eduardo Nunez to unify super-featherweight world titles

Emanuel Navarrete stopped Eduardo Nunez before the start of the 11th round to unify the WBO and IBF super-featherweight titles in Arizona on Saturday...

Oleksandr Usyk's IBF and WBA belts could be at risk if he fights Rico Verhoeven in a WBC heavyweight title defence

Oleksandr Usyk's IBF and WBA belts could be at risk if he fights Rico Verhoeven in a WBC heavyweight title defence

Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC title against Rico Verhoeven, but the unified champion's IBF and WBA belts could be at risk.The Ukrainian star has...

Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper feud ignites: 'As an athlete, as a fighter, as a person, I don’t rate you!'

Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper feud ignites: 'As an athlete, as a fighter, as a person, I don’t rate you!'

“She hasn’t done anything.”Caroline Dubois left Terri Harper lost for words.The Londoner subjected the three-weight world champion to a cold salvo of...

Floyd Mayweather to have exhibition against kickboxer Mike Zambidis in Athens before Manny Pacquiao rematch in September

Floyd Mayweather to have exhibition against kickboxer Mike Zambidis in Athens before Manny Pacquiao rematch in September

Floyd Mayweather will have an exhibition bout before he fights old rival Manny Pacquiao later this year.The American superstar, who retired from profe...

Richard Riakporhe to fight Jeamie TKV for British heavyweight title on Tyson Fury vs Aslanbek Makhmudov undercard

Richard Riakporhe to fight Jeamie TKV for British heavyweight title on Tyson Fury vs Aslanbek Makhmudov undercard

Richard Riakporhe will fight Jeamie TKV for the British heavyweight title on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s comeback.Fury returns to boxing after a yea...

Peter Fury to train Rico Verhoeven ahead of Oleksandr Usyk WBC heavyweight title fight in Egypt

Peter Fury to train Rico Verhoeven ahead of Oleksandr Usyk WBC heavyweight title fight in Egypt

Peter Fury has confirmed he will be involved in Rico Verhoeven's training camp ahead of his shock fight for Oleksandr Usyk's WBC title on May 23. Heav...