
Nate Pardo-Marrero
Jan 16, 2026
1 min read
Cruiserweight titleholder Jai Opetaia has signed with Zuffa Boxing, it was announced Friday.
Zuffa Boxing has announced it's biggest signing to date, Ring and IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, a rising star in the sport. The announcement was made Friday.
“Pumped for the future,” Opetaia said in a Zuffa Boxing video that was posted on X. “Exciting times. Let’s get these big fights over the line. Unification [and] undisputed soon. Let’s go.”
https://x.com/Zuffa_Boxing/status/2012319620641026150
Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) established himself as one of the top cruiserweights when he won the then-vacant IBF title in a unanimous decision victory over multiple-time world champion Mairis Briedis in May 2024.
The dynamic southpaw from Sydney, Australia, has successfully defended his belt five times over two reigns, including a rematch with Briedis.
Opetaia, 30, last fought on Dec. 6, taking down previously unbeaten Huseyin Cinkara by an eighth-round knockout.
Zuffa Boxing’s first show will take place January 23. The main event pits 154-pound contender Callum Walsh (15-0, 11 KOs) against Carlos Ocampo (38-3, 26 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight bout at Meta Apex in Las Vegas.
Also on the card, Misael Rodriguez (15-0, 7 KOs) will face Austin Deanda (17-0, 11 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight matchup. And Julian Rodriguez (24-1, 15 KOs) will fight Cain Sandoval (17-0, 15 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight bout.
The show begins at 9 p.m. ET and will be streamed on Paramount Plus.
Zuffa Boxing was formed by TKO and Sela, an entertainment conglomerate. The company’s leadership includes Dana White, president and CEO of UFC; Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and owner of The Ring; Sela managing director and CEO Dr. Rakan AlHarthy, and WWE president Nick Khan, who is a TKO board member as well.
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Nate Pardo-Marrero

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