Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia to be stripped of IBF belt for staying active

Ring Journal/IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia is on the verge of being stripped of his sanctioning physique belt.

The undefeated 28-year-old Australian southpaw was warned final week by the IBF that this could be the seemingly final result if he proceeds together with his voluntary title protection towards England’s Zorro Ellis (17-0, 7 KOs) on the large ‘Day of Reckoning’ card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 23.

In keeping with the IBF’s rationale, Opetaia (23-0, 18 KOs) is because of face his obligatory contender Mairis Briedis subsequent. The 38-year-old Latvian veteran, a two-time former champ who holds a powerful file of 28-2 with 20 KOs, is at present injured and unavailable to field.

An settlement was reached in precept between the Opetaia and Briedis camps to battle in late March or early April 2024 in Saudi Arabia. The bout could be a rematch of their thrilling July 2022 bout in Australia that Opetaia received by unanimous choice regardless of a damaged jaw. The victory earned Opetaia the IBF belt and recognition as The Ring champion after beating the primary cruiserweight on the planet.

Ellis stays unranked by the New Jersey-based sanctioning physique, who’ve been lobbied by the unbeaten 31-year-old’s promoter Queensberry Promotions to discover a spot for him of their high 15. Up to now, the IBF haven’t finished this and have proven no indication that they are going to.

Opetaia, who’s reportedly set to obtain $450,000 for the Ellis battle and way more for the Briedis rematch, obtained an exemption from the IBF to face Britain’s Jordan Thompson (15-1, 12 KOs) in his final bout in October. Opetaia received that battle by a powerful fourth-round knockout.

The IBF says there isn’t a provision of their guidelines for back-to-back exemptions, whatever the circumstances.

“We’ve made it clear to Jai’s crew that he can’t battle Ellis Zorro for the title,” the IBF mentioned via a spokesperson to Fox Sports activities Australia.

“We had already given Jai an exemption to battle Jordan Thompson in his final battle, so he can’t get one other exemption to battle Zorro, who doesn’t have a world rating.

“In our guidelines, it might’t be finished. He can’t have back-to-back exemptions.

“If we break the foundations for Jai, it opens the floodgates for everybody else.

“The IBF have notified Jai’s crew that he can’t battle Zorro — we’ve mentioned his subsequent battle needs to be a compulsory towards Briedis.

“If Jai Opetaia goes forward and fights Zorro, he shall be stripped of his IBF world title.”

Opetaia’s co-promoter Eddie Hearn labeled the choice “actually disappointing.”

“We’ve simply received to have slightly little bit of widespread sense,” the Matchroom Boxing chief instructed Boxing Social.

“You’ve received the No. 1 within the division, who’s going to vacate his belt. The belts are going to begin to not matter.

“He’s received a two-fight deal in Saudi and it’s life-changing cash for him. So what are you going to do? Give all of it up? Due to a foolish choice by a committee?

“I feel belts matter. To be a world champion holds worth, no query. However you shouldn’t let it disrupt and distract your profession.

“For Jai, these two fights may lastly safe his future and his kids’s future. You’re going to let a belt and a governing physique and a committee cease you from doing that? We should always all abide by guidelines, but when guidelines are inconsistent or unfair, you must arise towards them?”

Happily for Opetaia, he retains the one belt in boxing that actually issues.

“I imagine that anybody who has The Ring championship is the very best fighter on the earth of their weight division,” Opetaia mentioned in an unique interview final month.

“I really feel like holding the cruiserweight belt is a privilege. It’s a badge of honor to have the ability to carry that round. To have the ability to defend it the way in which I did, it’s an honor. It’s feeling to have the ability to carry that belt over my shoulder.”