Overview
- The IBF, which voted March 19 to vacate the belt, confirmed Monday it had stripped Jai Opetaia following his March 8 Zuffa Boxing bout.
- The federation says it sanctioned the fight only if Zuffa’s strap was a token, then pulled approval on March 6 when it was billed as a world title, triggering Rule 5.H on unsanctioned contests.
- Opetaia remains Zuffa’s inaugural cruiserweight champion, while his Ring Magazine status could face review because he has not met the top‑five opponent requirement since May 2024.
- Opetaia’s team says it is pursuing legal action, with his attorney calling the IBF move a product of coordinated industry collusion against fighters who sign with Zuffa.
- The vacant belt is already in motion as Mateusz Masternak vs Viddal Riley on April 4 is an IBF eliminator that could lead to a shot at Chris Billam‑Smith.