Boxing Mar 12, 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

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn, Fabio Wardley, Oleksandr Usyk and Moses Itauma all winners at Boxing Board awards

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn, Fabio Wardley, Oleksandr Usyk and Moses Itauma all winners at Boxing Board awards

Conor Benn’s first fight with Chris Eubank Jr won the Contest of the Year prize at the prestigious British Boxing Board of Control awards.New WBO heav...

Fabio Wardley primed for Daniel Dubois 'shoot-out', says WBO heavyweight champion's trainer Ben Davison

Fabio Wardley primed for Daniel Dubois 'shoot-out', says WBO heavyweight champion's trainer Ben Davison

Fabio Wardley will be ready for a "shoot-out" with British rival Daniel Dubois, says the WBO heavyweight champion's trainer Ben Davison.Wardley will m...

Amanda Serrano: ‘When I started, women weren't getting these opportunities. We were fighting for recognition'

Amanda Serrano: ‘When I started, women weren't getting these opportunities. We were fighting for recognition'

Amanda Serrano believes women’s boxing has reached a new level.Serrano is a trailblazing, multi-weight world champion herself, who's competed with Kat...

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...

Jai Opetaia: Now Chris Billam-Smith doesn’t have a belt he wants to fight! I’ve never hand-picked a fight

Jai Opetaia: Now Chris Billam-Smith doesn’t have a belt he wants to fight! I’ve never hand-picked a fight

Jai Opetaia won’t move up to heavyweight until he has cleaned up the cruiserweight division.Already viewed as the world's leading 200lber, with his bl...

Barry McGuigan: 'People are overlooking how good Ellie Scotney is and what she’s achieved. She's phenomenal'

Barry McGuigan: 'People are overlooking how good Ellie Scotney is and what she’s achieved. She's phenomenal'

Ellie Scotney is on the edge of greatness, says boxing legend Barry McGuigan.Scotney takes on Mexico's Mayelli Flores for all four major super-bantamw...