Jai Opetaia has filed a lawsuit against the IBF, alleging that the sanctioning body unlawfully stripped him of its cruiserweight title after he signed with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.
The complaint, filed on July 14 in federal court in Nevada, accuses the IBF of conspiring with other sanctioning bodies and prominent boxing figures to punish Opetaia and discourage other fighters from joining Zuffa.
Opetaia is seeking reinstatement as IBF champion, financial damages and an injunction preventing the organization from naming a new titleholder while the case is ongoing.
The dispute centers on Opetaia’s March 8 fight with Brandon Glanton. The IBF initially approved the bout after reportedly receiving assurances that Zuffa’s championship would be presented only as a trophy, but withdrew its sanctioning two days before the event. Opetaia proceeded with the fight and was later stripped.
In the lawsuit, Opetaia alleges the IBF never intended to honor its approval and instead planned to cause maximum financial and reputational damage. The complaint also names the WBA, WBC and WBO, their respective presidents and former promoter Eddie Hearn as alleged participants in the wider conspiracy.
The IBF had not responded to the allegations at the time of publication.
Image Credit: Zuffa Boxing