Jai Opetaia Forced to Vacate IBF Cruiserweight Title

Who is Jai Opetaia?

Jai Opetaia, the Australian boxer with a Samoan heritage, rose to fame in 2022 when he dethroned world champion Mairis Briedis. Born on June 30, 1995, Opetaia comes from a family with a strong sporting background, including being related to Premier League icon Tim Cahill. With an impressive professional record of 23 wins and 0 losses, Opetaia has made a name for himself in the boxing world.

Why did Opetaia have to vacate the title?

Jai Opetaia was offered a lucrative two-fight deal to box in Saudi Arabia, including a spot on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's fight against Otto Wallin. However, the IBF refused to allow Opetaia to face another opponent before his scheduled title rematch against Mairis Briedis. As a result, Opetaia had to choose between pulling out of the Saudi fight or being stripped of his IBF cruiserweight world title. He decided to accept the Zorro fight, leaving him with the prestigious Ring Magazine belt.

Opetaia's Statement

In a statement, Opetaia expressed his disappointment at having to vacate his world title but emphasized his focus on defending the Ring Magazine title. He is determined to regain the IBF belt in the future.