Australian boxer Jai Opetaia has taken his fight to the US courts, starting a lawsuit against the International Boxing Federation (IBF) to regain his cruiserweight world title. The 31-year-old claims the IBF acted unlawfully when it stripped him of his belt after he signed with Zuffa Boxing, a new promotion launched by UFC president Dana White and Saudi Arabian-owned Sela and American company TKO.
The dispute centres on Opetaia's decision to sign with Zuffa Boxing, the new promotion launched in June 2025. According to the lawsuit, the IBF initially approved Opetaia's fight against Brandon Glanton in Las Vegas in March, before withdrawing its sanctioning less than 48 hours before the contest. The IBF subsequently vacated Opetaia's title, leading to the lawsuit.
The complaint alleges that the IBF's actions were 'the product of coordinated, industry-wide collusion designed to penalise Jai for signing with Zuffa Boxing and to deter other athletes from doing the same'. The case has echoes of a similar dispute in 2004, when the WBC was forced into liquidation after losing a £17m legal battle against former champion Graciano Rocchigiani.
Opetaia is seeking to have his title reinstated, recover damages and legal costs, and prevent the IBF from naming another cruiserweight champion while the litigation continues. The IBF has declined to comment on the matter.