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

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...

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...

Oleksandr Usyk to fight Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois winner, then Tyson Fury| 'We're up for that!' says Frank Warren

Oleksandr Usyk to fight Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois winner, then Tyson Fury| 'We're up for that!' says Frank Warren

Promoter Frank Warren intends to open negotiations for Oleksandr Usyk to fight the winner of Fabio Wardley's world title clash with Daniel Dubois.Usyk...

Amy Broadhurst: The new mother on returning to GB to chase Olympic glory, beating Imane Khelif and being 'Baby Canelo'

Amy Broadhurst: The new mother on returning to GB to chase Olympic glory, beating Imane Khelif and being 'Baby Canelo'

Amy Broadhurst, the Irish world champion who switched to GB, has returned to the gym to resume her pursuit of Olympic glory.Broadhurst is coming back...

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...

Ruby White has taken inspiration from Lauren Price as the teenage amateur boxer racked up 60 straight wins

Ruby White has taken inspiration from Lauren Price as the teenage amateur boxer racked up 60 straight wins

Sixty wins in a row. What does losing even feel like? You can allow yourself a little smirk, a swagger as you stroll to the ring. This will be easy ag...