Jai Opetaia has officially been stripped of his IBF lightweight title after switching to Zuffa Boxing.
Opetaia has long had his sights set on undisputed status in the lightweight division – hoping to capture all the major belts – so his decision to join Zuffa in January came as a surprise as the new promotion looks to break away from the traditional system and introduce its own titles in each division.
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Opetaia’s moves always seemed to lead to complications, with mixed messages being given about his status as IBF champion when he teamed up with Brandon Granton for Zuffa’s first belt. This mixed message has continued throughout boxing week, with the Australian boxer insisting his IBF belt will be in jeopardy against Granton.
In the end that was not the case and Opetaia then easily defeated the American.
Jai Opetaia wins inaugural Zuffa Boxing Championship
Now, the organization has officially stripped 30-year-old Opetaia of her IBF title.
A statement on Monday read: “On March 19, 2026, the IBF Board of Directors met via teleconference to discuss the status of the IBF Lightweight Title held by Jai Opetaia. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board voted to revoke the title in accordance with Rule 5.H. The IBF Lightweight Title has become vacant.
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“The IBF wishes Jay Opetaia continued success in his career. His rise in the IBF rankings to become world champion is one of the highest achievements in a boxer’s career. As noted in a previous press release regarding this situation, the IBF’s rules do not always produce preferred or popular results, but they provide structure and transparency that serve not only the champion, but also those waiting for the opportunity to compete for a title.”
The problem with the IBF is that Opetaia vs. Granton appears to be billed as a fight for Zuffa’s belt and title unification, even though Zuffa’s title is not a traditional title.
The IBF statement continued: “On March 3, 2026, the IBF received an email from [attorney Joshua] Dubin confirmed on Opetaia’s behalf that “Zuffa Boxing… will not be promoting the fight as a ‘unification'”. The letter further states, “[a]Any belt awarded will be considered a trophy or mark of recognition. [Promoter Sean] Gibbons also represents [IBF] president [Daryl] It is believed that Zuffa’s title will not be contested. The IBF sanctioned the fight under these conditions.
Opetaia (right) defeated Brandon Granton (Zuffa Boxing) with easy points
“Despite these statements, it was made clear at a March 6 press conference in Las Vegas that Oppetaya’s fight against Granton would be for the ‘Zuffa World Lightweight Championship.’ Following the press conference, the IBF informed Gibbons that the sanctions against Oppetaya vs. Granton had been lifted.
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“Therefore, this fight is an unsanctioned fight under IBF Rule 5.H, which states: ‘An unsanctioned fight is a fight in which the IBF has not officially approved sanctions or sanctions have been officially withdrawn. If the champion competes in an unsanctioned fight within his stated weight limit, the title will be declared vacant regardless of whether the champion wins or loses the fight.'”
independent Representatives of Opetaia have been contacted for comment.
