Jai Opetaia’s victory over Brandon Glanton has sparked debate over the standards used to determine when The Ring championship is contested.
For many years, The Ring belt built its reputation by following a strict guideline that the championship should only be contested between the No. 1 and No. 2 fighters in a division. The policy helped position the title as a lineal-style championship separate from boxing’s sanctioning bodies and their multiple belts.
In the case of Opetaia vs. Glanton, that long-standing standard appeared to shift. Glanton entered the fight ranked No. 10 by The Ring and No. 15 by the International Boxing Federation, placing him well outside the traditional top-two requirement that historically determined when The Ring title would be at stake.
The circumstances around the bout were already unusual. Opetaia entered the fight aware that his IBF cruiserweight title would be vacated if the contest proceeded without the organization’s sanction. When the fight went ahead, the Australian relinquished the IBF belt but left the ring with the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight championship.
The involvement of The Ring title in the bout has therefore drawn increased scrutiny from many fans.
Image Credit: The Ring