Overview
- De La Hoya used his weekly social-media segment to deride the Zuffa belt as a “participation trophy” and urged Jai Opetaia to leave Dana White’s promotion.
- The IBF withdrew sanction days before Opetaia–Glanton, saying the Zuffa title must be presented only as a “trophy or token of recognition” under Rule 5.H.
- Opetaia beat Brandon Glanton by unanimous decision at Zuffa Boxing 04 to claim the promotion’s inaugural cruiserweight belt, but it did not count as an IBF defense.
- Opetaia’s team has begun legal action and issued a preservation notice to the IBF to protect his championship status, which the federation says remains under deliberation.
- Dana White argues all parties were aligned before fight week and accuses the IBF of planning a pullout, while De La Hoya also alleged The Ring manipulated rankings to elevate Glanton.