{"id":298789,"date":"2023-12-09T09:24:53","date_gmt":"2023-12-09T09:24:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=298789"},"modified":"2023-12-09T09:24:53","modified_gmt":"2023-12-09T09:24:53","slug":"aussie-boxing-champion-jai-opetaia-could-be-stripped-of-world-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/boxing\/aussie-boxing-champion-jai-opetaia-could-be-stripped-of-world-title\/","title":{"rendered":"Aussie boxing champion Jai Opetaia could be stripped of world title"},"content":{"rendered":"
Australian boxing world champion Jai Opetaia is on the verge of losing his IBF cruiserweight title due to his decision to participate in a lucrative event in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Opetaia, boasting an impressive record of 23-0 with 18 KOs, has opted for a $680,000 payday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Australian pugilist will be stepping into the ring against England’s undefeated Ellis Zorro (17-0, 7 KOs) on December 23rd as part of a star-studded card featuring the likes of Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker, and Daniel Dubois.<\/p>\n
The Aussie boxer, who won the IBF title against Mairis Briedis of Latvia last year on the Gold Coast, even while contending with a broken jaw, is now drawing flak from the IBF.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The federation insists that Opetaia’s next bout should be a mandatory title defence against Briedis again. This comes as Opetaia would need another exemption, having just recently squared off against Briton Jordan Thompson in October.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Australian boxing world champion Jai Opetaia could be stripped of his world title<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The IBF has said that Opetaia’s next bout should be a mandatory title defence against Briedis<\/p>\n
‘We’ve made it clear to Jai’s team that he cannot fight Ellis Zorro for the title,’ the IBF said through a spokesperson.<\/p>\n
‘We had already given Jai an exemption to fight Jordan Thompson in his last fight, so he can’t get another exemption to fight Zorro, who does not have a world ranking.<\/p>\n
‘In our rules, it can’t be done. He can’t have back-to-back exemptions.<\/p>\n
‘If we break the rules for Jai, it opens the floodgates for everyone else.<\/p>\n
‘The IBF have notified Jai’s team that he cannot fight Zorro \u2014 we’ve said his next fight has to be a mandatory against Briedis.<\/p>\n
‘If Jai Opetaia goes ahead and fights Zorro, he will be stripped of his IBF world title.’<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Aussie fighter is amongst the nation’s best pound for pound boxers and has signed a lucrative deal to fight in Saudi Arabie<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Opetaia is currently scheduled to take on Britain’s\u00a0undefeated Ellis Zorro (17-0, 7 KOs)<\/p>\n
Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis told News Corp that Briedis had no objections to Opetaia facing English boxer Ellis Zorro first.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) insists on a rematch between Opetaia and Briedis as the Aussie’s next bout.<\/p>\n
The controversy emerges amidst reports of a lucrative three-fight deal presented by the Saudis to Opetaia, which is said to be worth over $2million.<\/p>\n
‘The IBF are brutal,’ Aussie IBF bantamweight world champion Ebanie Bridges said in response.<\/p>\n
.<\/p>\n