Boxing Apr 15, 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

Gully Powar calls for British title rematch with Rhys Edwards after thrilling draw in Cardiff

Gully Powar calls for British title rematch with Rhys Edwards after thrilling draw in Cardiff

Gully Powar is desperate to face Rhys Edwards in a rematch after their thrilling draw in Cardiff last week, predicting he will "stop him next time".Th...

Amanda Serrano to make unified featherweight title defence on May 30 bill topped by Stephanie Han vs Holly Holm rematch

Amanda Serrano to make unified featherweight title defence on May 30 bill topped by Stephanie Han vs Holly Holm rematch

Amanda Serrano will return to the ring on May 30 at the El Paso County Coliseum in Texas.She will defend her WBA and WBO titles against Germany's Chey...

Frazer Clarke vows to upset Justis Huni and change public opinion following defeats to Fabio Wardley and Jeamie TKV

Frazer Clarke vows to upset Justis Huni and change public opinion following defeats to Fabio Wardley and Jeamie TKV

Frazer Clarke believes he can swing public opinion by upsetting Justis Huni at Tottenham on Saturday night. The 34-year-old heavyweight is seeking to...

Tyson Fury weighs in lighter than in Oleksandr Usyk rematch for Arslanbek Makhmudov fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tyson Fury weighs in lighter than in Oleksandr Usyk rematch for Arslanbek Makhmudov fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tyson Fury and Arslanbek Makhmudov took to the scales ahead of Saturday's heavyweight fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.It will be Fury's first f...

Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov big-fight predictions: Who wins heavyweight clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov big-fight predictions: Who wins heavyweight clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

Lennox Lewis, David Haye, Dillian Whyte and more provide an expert breakdown of Tyson Fury's comeback bout against Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenha...

Caroline Dubois to be Katie Taylor's 'last dancer partner'? | 'She’s the one that holds all the cards - it's up to her'

Caroline Dubois to be Katie Taylor's 'last dancer partner'? | 'She’s the one that holds all the cards - it's up to her'

Caroline Dubois wouldn't hesitate to box Katie Taylor in the Irish superstar’s retirement fight.But the newly unified WBC and WBO lightweight world ch...