Opetaia sues IBF, alleges title strip was retaliation for Zuffa signing

Jai Opetaia, the former IBF cruiserweight champion, filed a lawsuit on July 14 in Nevada federal court against the International Boxing Federation, claiming the sanctioning body stripped him of his title in retaliation for signing with Zuffa Boxing, according to ESPN's reporting.

Opetaia's suit alleges the IBF violated the 2000 Muhammad Ali Reform Act and conspired with boxing's other sanctioning bodies to inflict financial and reputational harm on the fighter. The timing and sequence of events at the center of the claim are stark: Opetaia defeated Brandon Glanton in one-sided fashion on March 8 under the Zuffa banner, also competing for the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight belt. The IBF initially sanctioned that fight. Opetaia paid the IBF $73,000 in sanctioning fees the day before the bout. Eleven days after the Glanton victory, the IBF stripped Opetaia of its cruiserweight title.

The lawsuit characterizes the Glanton bout as ceremonial in nature, not an attempt to circumvent title sanctioning by the IBF or professional boxing's other three sanctioning bodies. The IBF raised no objections to the fight in the days before the event, per the suit. However, the suit alleges that the IBF did not provide the requisite disclosures to the Nevada State Athletic Commission before accepting Opetaia's fees, as required by the Ali Act.

Opetaia won the IBF cruiserweight belt in 2022 and reclaimed it in 2024 when he defeated Mairis Briedis by unanimous decision. He defended the IBF cruiserweight title four times before the Glanton match, according to ESPN. The lawsuit accuses IBF executive director Daryl Peoples of coordinating with other sanctioning body executives in what the suit calls a scheme to punish Opetaia for his Zuffa deal. The suit alleges that the Big Four sanctioning bodies and their agents have acted in concert to retaliate against him for that signing. The lawsuit also alleges the IBF should have known that stripping Opetaia would harm his ability to secure future major fights and title unification opportunities.

Opetaia seeks an injunction to prevent the IBF from scheduling another cruiserweight title fight or naming a new cruiserweight champion until the case is resolved. An IBF spokesperson declined to comment on the allegations, stating the organization will release a statement when it is appropriate, per ESPN.

The suit arrives amid a broader governance dispute in boxing. Zuffa Boxing, run by TKO Holding Group and UFC CEO Dana White, has been pushing for congressional approval of the Muhammad Ali Revival Act. If passed, the Revival Act would allow the formation of Unified Boxing Organizations, essentially a one-stop shop for promotion, ranking, and sanctioning similar to the UFC in mixed martial arts. The current sanctioning bodies and other promoters have raised opposition to the bill, claiming it could strip the purpose of the original Ali Act. The revised Revival Act passed the House of Representatives earlier in 2026 and now awaits Senate approval. Commerce Committee chairman Ted Cruz indicated in April 2026 he would introduce a Senate version of the bill.