The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has withdrawn its recognition for the IBF cruiserweight world champion fight between Jai Opetaia and Brandon Glanton, which was scheduled to take place.
Thus, the Opetaia-Glanton fight, promoted by Zuffa Boxing, will take place without official IBF recognition. If Opetaia proceeds with the fight, his IBF cruiserweight world title will be declared vacant.
"If a champion participates in an unsanctioned contest within the specified weight limit, the title will be declared vacant regardless of whether the champion wins or loses the fight," said an official IBF statement.
In a press conference in Las Vegas, Opetaia previously said that his belt and the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight title would be on the line in what he described as a title unification fight.
However, Zuffa Boxing is not a sanctioning body recognized by the IBF and does not fall under the same rules system as that organization.
The IBF explains that an unsanctioned bout is a fight that is not officially sanctioned by the organization.
Thus, if Opetaia continues to fight Glanton, he will lose his IBF title for the second time.
