Jai Opetaia’s Upcoming Championship Challenge
Jai Opetaia is gearing up for a significant challenge as he aims to secure another championship belt in the cruiserweight division. On March 8, in Las Vegas, he will face Brandon Glanton in an event that marks a historic moment in boxing, as they will compete for the first ever Zuffa Boxing championship across any weight category. This matchup will headline Zuffa Boxing 4, set to air on Paramount+ at the Meta Apex.
Opetaia’s Title Status and Record
Currently the IBF cruiserweight titleholder, Opetaia is looking forward to potentially adding the Zuffa cruiserweight title to his accolades while facing Glanton. However, the status of his IBF belt during this fight remains uncertain, with no confirmation if it will be contested. Notably, Dana White, one of Zuffa’s co-founders, along with the promotional materials for the event, has not mentioned the IBF title, and multiple inquiries to the organization have gone unanswered as of this writing.
The Australian fighter holds an impressive record of 29 victories without a loss, including 23 by knockout. Opetaia is a two-time IBF cruiserweight champion; his first reign began in July 2022 when he achieved an unexpected victory against Mairis Briedis. After recapturing the title in May 2024 in a rematch against Briedis, he has successfully defended it four times since. He previously confronted WBC champion Noel Mikaelyan during the inaugural Zuffa Boxing event earlier this year, teasing the possibility of a future unification fight, although recent reports suggested that Opetaia’s forthcoming bout would not involve Mikaelyan after all.
Brandon Glanton’s Journey
In contrast, his opponent Glanton, sporting a record of 21 wins and 3 losses with 18 knockouts, is stepping into the ring for the first time seeking a world title. His boxing journey includes a narrow split decision loss to David Light, which cost him the WBO No. 1 contender position in December 2022, followed by a defeat against the undefeated Soslan Asbarov. Despite these setbacks, Glanton managed to secure three consecutive victories before facing a loss to Chris Billam-Smith on the undercard of the Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 1 fight. Most recently, he bounced back with a sixth-round knockout of Marcus Browne in October, solidifying his readiness for this historic clash.
