The sanctioning body is currently deliberating whether or not Jai Opetaia will be stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title.

Opetaia engaged in a bout with Brandon Glanton on Sunday, beating him by unanimous decision in a clash which the IBF failed to sanction to begin with. The fight was the main event of Zuffa Boxing 004 and took place at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

The contest was deemed in violation of IBF Rule 5.H, which discourages champions from taking part in unsanctioned bout and it seemed as if the Australian would be stripped of his IBF title. Opetaia picked up the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight title with his win, and he retained his Ring title.

Opetaia spoke emotionally about his dedication to fighting for the IBF belt in the post-fight press conference, and it seems his words have struck a chord with the sanctioning body, who will now continue to deliberate on the best course of action.

“The status of the IBF Cruiserweight Title remains in deliberation,” an IBF statement read. “Jai Opetaia made comments during the post-fight press conference that have led the organization’s leadership to question whether he was made completely and fully aware by his advisors of the decisions he needed to make when committing to the bout against Brandon Glanton. The organization intends to look further into this matter.”

The fight was eventually sanctioned on March 5, after communication from Team Opetaia that the clash wasn't a unification, and $73,000.00 in fees were paid.

Sanctioning was then pulled after it became clear the fight was for the Zuffa Boxing world title, not just a belt deemed to be a "token of recognition."

“As previously noted in its press release issued on March 6, the IBF had no communication with any direct representative of Zuffa Boxing regarding sanction of the Opetaia vs. Glanton bout,” the IBF said in a statement. “This remained the case until after March 6, when the sanction for the bout was withdrawn. On February 11, the IBF initiated discussions with Mick Francis, head of Tasman Fighters, Opetaia’s promoter of record with the IBF, when IBF President Daryl Peoples sent him a letter via email after seeing announcements on social media for the scheduled contest. The letter reminded Francis of IBF Rule 5, which governs champions and unification bouts. Later that day Francis submitted an application requesting sanction for the optional defense of the IBF Cruiserweight title. The IBF denied sanction of the bout.”

“Discussions were then continued with a representative retained by Opetaia, and Sean Gibbons of Manny Pacquiao Promotions and Knucklehead Boxing serving as a mediator. Tasman Fighters and Francis were no longer involved in these discussions. The IBF has maintained a long-standing professional relationship with Gibbons. Peoples received verbal assurances from Gibbons that the IBF title would be the championship contested on March 8, and that the Zuffa belt would only be awarded as a token of recognition at the end of the bout. A subsequent letter to Peoples by the representative retained by Opetaia also confirmed that the Zuffa belt would be characterized as a “trophy or token of recognition." Gibbons submitted another bout application for the contest on March 3 listing Manny Pacquiao Promotions as the promoter of the bout. After receiving the fully executed bout contracts from Gibbons, the IBF formally sanctioned the Opetaia vs. Glanton bout on March 5.”

It was also reported that the IBF was irate over the placement of their belt during the pre-fight press conference. The IBF denies that being the case. The sanctioning body also denies claims that, after receiving payment, they withdrew their sanction out of spite.

The statement added: “Payment for sanction fees, which totaled $73,000.00, was sent to the IBF via wire transfer from Knucklehead Boxing’s bank account and received by the IBF on March 6. The IBF withdrew sanction of the bout at 8:22 PM EST on March 6 via email to Gibbons following the prefight press conference that took place shortly beforehand. At 1:22 PM EST on March 7 a wire transfer was processed from the IBF back to Knucklehead Boxing’s bank account returning the $73,000.00 in sanction fees. Immediately afterward, an email was sent to Gibbons including the wire transfer receipt advising that the funds had been returned. Gibbons acknowledged receipt of the email at 2:46 PM EST.”

“In the email to Gibbons withdrawing sanction for the bout, Peoples addressed the assurances Gibbons had provided and the letter he had received which led to the IBF sanctioning the bout. Peoples did not express concern over the IBF belt’s placement during the press conference in the email. In fact, the words “belt” and “placement” were not included in the email at all, contrary to what certain members of the boxing media have suggested in reports stating that they were granted access to the email sent by Peoples.”

This isn’t the first time the IBF stripped Opetaia. In December, 2023, the IBF refused to sanction his bout against Ellis Zorro. In that scenario, the IBF stuck to its guns. In this one, they aren’t closing the door on allowing Opetaia to remain champion.