Jai Opetaia vacates world title to chase mega payday after a spat with IBF authorities

Jai Opetaia may have given up his IBF cruiserweight world title, but he’s gone down swinging. The Aussie champ slammed the sanctioning body, boxing matches featuring YouTubers and more.

An emotional Jai Opetaia says it was a “no brainer” to relinquish the IBF cruiserweight world title, and has slammed the sanctioning body, his would-be opponent Mairis Briedis and even boxing sideshows featuring YouTubers.

Just an hour after formally announcing his decision to give up the IBF belt, Opetaia also revealed the mental health struggles he had following his courageous world title win over Briedis in 2022, when he battled through a badly broken jaw.

The win left him eating through a straw for four months, and the 28-year-old says he’s disappointed with the IBF’s decision not to back him to have a title defence against Ellis Zorro in Riyadh this weekend.

“The hardest part wasn’t the broken jaw or the fight, it was the whole f***ing depression of that mental darkness that you’ve gotta dig yourself out of,” Opetaia told this masthead. “It was difficult.

Opetaia isn’t afraid to speak his mind. Picture: Getty Images

“People don’t understand the frustration of that sort of stuff. There was surgery, then the healing process went wrong and it dragged on and on.

“Then, we tried to have fights. We had a fighter from the UK pull out. Several mandatories pulled out and held me back from moving forward.

“Briedis isn’t the first one, but they’ve only just stripped me because of Briedis.

“But this shit’s been going on since the start of the year.

“We give this sport and this journey one hundred percent and it feels like we don’t even get five percent back.”

Which makes this weekend’s fight against Zorro even more important.

While he has been forced to drop the world title, a defiant Opetaia is setting himself up for two more fights in Saudi Arabia in which he’ll earn life changing sums of money.

“Fight nights like this mean it’s paying off,” he said. “These are the opportunities I’ve been waiting for.

“It’s a no brainer, it would be stupid to throw away an opportunity like this. The fact they don’t see that and they’re not backing me, it blows my mind.

“But it is what it f***ing is. It’s been such a struggle to get to where we are. It’s been a grind. The odds have been stacked up against us constantly.

“And we’re still here. They can’t break us. I don’t expect no favours, I’m out here on my own journey, doing my own thing and looking after the people that I love.”

This weekend’s card is one of the biggest and best in boxing history, featuring Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker and Dimitri Bivol.

Opetaia says he has truly earned to fight on a big stage. Picture Glenn Hampson

It’s the kind of stage Opetaia has always dreamed about fighting on, and a far cry from the YouTube fight nights that regularly grab mainstream attention.

“It’s not just the money, but it’s the profile of being on these cards – it’s like a world title is on the line,” he said. “I feel like this is the biggest boxing card in history.

“Lately you’ve been seeing UFC fighters fight boxers, or YouTubers fight this bullshit. They’re selling fights in press conferences and acting like fruit loops.

“This is pure boxing. This is what it’s about.

“People get mixed up with boxing and show business. They sell fights with their mouths, not their abilities and skills.

“But I deserve to be here on this card. It wasn’t handed out. I f***ing scratched and crawled to get here.

“I’ve earned my sport here and I’m gonna earn it again.”

Opetaia has long term plans of moving up to heavyweight, but says he still has unfinished business at cruiser.

“I feel I’ve still got boxes to tick,” he said. “I’m only 28. I only defended my title once.

“These international fights are progressing me, and this fight will put me even higher.

“Bro, I’m just getting started. I just need to keep training, winning these fights, and the rest will fall into place.”

GUTTED OPETAIA WALKS AWAY FROM WORLD TITLE

Australia’s cruiserweight king Jai Opetaia has made the gut-wrenching call to vacate his world title to chase a $680,000 Christmas bonus in Saudi Arabia.

This masthead can reveal Opetaia’s management have formally advised authorities the Gold Coast-based world champion is giving up his IBF world title to be part of a life-changing opportunity in the Middle East.

Opetaia was on a collision course with the IBF after the organisation threatened to strip him, rejecting his bout against Ellis Zorro at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh this Sunday (AEDT).

But Opetaia — arguably Australia’s No.1 pound-for-pound fighter — has effectively jumped before he was pushed, relinquishing the IBF world title to secure the biggest payday of his turbulent career.

The eight-fight card shapes as one of the biggest events in boxing history.

Cashed-up Saudi sheiks have outlaid millions to secure heavyweight big guns Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois, while unbeaten light heavyweight superstar Dmitrii Bivol will also feature.

Saudi heavy hitters also wanted Opetaia involved after watching him destroy Englishman Jordan Thompson in October to advance his unbeaten record to 23 fights with 18 stoppages.

Jai Opetaia broke his jaw in two places last year to win the IBF world title he has now been forced to give up.

Opetaia agonised over the decision to give up the IBF belt given that he broke his jaw in two places to secure his maiden world title in a 12-round war with Mairis Briedis on the Gold Coast last year.

But with the IBF playing hardball, Opetaia has finally agreed to relinquish the belt to clinch a life-changing payday.

It is understood the Opetaia-Zorro bout is a preamble to a potential three-fight deal for the Central Coast product, who stands to pocket more than $2 million with future events in Saudi Arabia.

Opetaia will still retain his Ring magazine belt, but he will plummet down the IBF world rankings list the minute he steps into the ring against the also unbeaten Zorro (17-0, 7KO).

The IBF has ordered Opetaia’s next fight to be a world-title re-match with Briedis, but the Australian says he is “sick and tired” of waiting for the 38-year-old Latvian hitman to step up.

“It is what it is. I have tried to fight Briedis, he kept pulling out with injuries and changing dates, so I’m done with waiting around,” Opetaia said.

“I have a massive opportunity to fight on this card, so it’s a no-brainer.

“There is just talk all the time (from the Briedis camp), just s***. I am ready. I train hard.

“I am fighting the 23rd of December, it is huge opportunity, it’s a big pay cheque.

“I’m not sitting around waiting anymore.”

Opetaia will fight this Sunday in a bout that will deliver a life-changing payday.

While disappointed to give up his IBF world title, Opetaia says he is easily the best cruiserweight on the planet and warned rivals he will be back to unify the division.

“If they (the IBF) want to take it (the title) off me, that’s what happens,” he said.

“One door closes and another one opens. All I have to do is what I do best and they can’t deny me.

“I am still the best cruiserweight in the division and the belts will come and I will work my way up the mandatories once again.

“My Ring magazine title is still safe ... I just have to keep winning fights.”

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, who has Opetaia in his global stable, has taken aim at the IBF over the world-title spat.

“We requested that Jai have an interim fight against Ellis Zorro, but the IBF said no,” he said.

“Surely, common sense has to come into play.

Opetaia’s promoter Eddie Hearn has taken aim at the IBF over the title spat.

“Financially, this is an opportunity that can change Jai’s life forever.

“The ultimate goal in this sport is that fighters can leave the sport healthy and financially secure.

“You can’t stand in the way of what’s fair and opportunities like this.

“The last thing Jai wants to do is vacate the world title.”

Opetaia has arrived in Saudi Arabia and said he is being treated like boxing royalty.

“I am very impressed with this place,” he said.

“Everything I need at the hotel is here, cold and hot pools, plunge pools, they have installed a boxing gym.

“I’m not here for a holiday and to go sight-seeing. I am here to get the job done.”

Originally published as Jai Opetaia vacates world title to chase mega payday after a spat with IBF authorities