Boxing Mar 17, 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

Josh Kelly: Conor Benn 'not on my level' but super-welterweight world championship fight can happen at Stadium of Light

Josh Kelly: Conor Benn 'not on my level' but super-welterweight world championship fight can happen at Stadium of Light

Josh Kelly does not consider Conor Benn a worthy challenger for his newly won world championship, but would accept that fight at the Stadium of Light...

Tyson Fury wants to fight Oleksandr Usyk again, he wants to be the best, says promoter Frank Warren ahead of comeback

Tyson Fury wants to fight Oleksandr Usyk again, he wants to be the best, says promoter Frank Warren ahead of comeback

Tyson Fury will target his old rival Oleksandr Usyk after his comeback fight, says promoter Frank Warren.Fury will return to boxing to take on Arslanb...

Chris Eubank Jr could return to a super-middleweight world title fight after middleweight defeat in Conor Benn rematch

Chris Eubank Jr could return to a super-middleweight world title fight after middleweight defeat in Conor Benn rematch

Chris Eubank Jr could return to boxing at super-middleweight with routes to a world title challenge available to him.Eubank Jr has had a long professi...

Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder winner could  get mandatory shot at Oleksandr Usyk's IBF title, says Frank Warren

Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder winner could get mandatory shot at Oleksandr Usyk's IBF title, says Frank Warren

Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder are putting their careers on the line when they fight in April, says promoter Frank Warren.Former world title challen...

Caroline Dubois confronts Terri Harper after fiery head-to-head: 'Pathetic! I don’t see any resistance from her'

Caroline Dubois confronts Terri Harper after fiery head-to-head: 'Pathetic! I don’t see any resistance from her'

Caroline Dubois and Terri Harper clashed in a fiery confrontation after filming an episode of The Gloves Are Off.Dubois and Harper will fight in a wor...

Claressa Shields 'way past' Savannah Marshall rematch as she eyes fight with Mikaela Mayer or Lauren Price

Claressa Shields 'way past' Savannah Marshall rematch as she eyes fight with Mikaela Mayer or Lauren Price

Claressa Shields has slammed the door on a possible rematch with Savannah Marshall, insisting she is "way past" that.The American star had a fierce ri...