‘Brutal’: Aussie champ Jai Opetaia faces being stripped of world title over $680k payday

Australian boxing world champion Jai Opetaia faces being stripped of his IBF cruiserweight belt over a $680,000 payday in Saudi Arabia.

Jai Opetaia is the world’s No. 1 ranked cruiserweight. Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images

Australian boxing world champion Jai Opetaia faces being stripped of his IBF cruiserweight belt over his decision to take a $680,000 payday in Saudi Arabia.

Fox Sports boxing commentator Ben Damon and Code Sports reported Opetaia (23-0, 18 KOs) will land $US450,000 for taking part in a blockbuster card in the Middle East on December 23, facing England’s Ellis Zorro (17-0, 7 KOs).

The Aussie, who claimed the IBF title against Latvia’s Mairis Briedis on the Gold Coast last year despite a broken jaw, is scheduled to feature on the undercard with Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois also involved.

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But the IBF is demanding his next fight comes again against Briedis, in a mandatory title defence, because he would require another exemption having already fought Briton Jordan Thompson in October.

JAI OPETAIA.

Simply remarkable 👊#OpetaiaThompsonpic.twitter.com/TJCfNzVt4q

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) September 30, 2023

“We’ve made it clear to Jai’s team that he cannot fight Ellis Zorro for the title,” the IBF said through a spokesperson.

“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.

“In our rules, it can’t be done. He can’t have back-to-back exemptions.

“If we break the rules for Jai, it opens the floodgates for everyone else.

“The IBF have notified Jai’s team that he cannot fight Zorro — we’ve said his next fight has to be a mandatory against Briedis.

“If Jai Opetaia goes ahead and fights Zorro, he will be stripped of his IBF world title.”

Jai Opetaia has a big choice on his hands. Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images

The 28-year-old is one of Australia’s top pound-for-pound boxers alongside Tim Tszyu, Sam Goodman and Jason Moloney.

Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis told Code Sports Briedis was happy for the Aussie to face Zorro first and the IBF were the only ones demanding the pair square off next.

The Saudis reportedly have a three-fight deal worth over $2 million on the table for Opetaia.

“The IBF are brutal,” Aussie IBF bantamweight world champion Ebanie Bridges said in response to the story.

Originally published as ‘Brutal’: Aussie champ Jai Opetaia faces being stripped of world title over $680k payday