In an exciting announcement that has boxing fans buzzing, Dana White took to social media on Tuesday to confirm a highly anticipated showdown between Jai Opetaia and Brandon Glanton. Scheduled for March 8 in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, this clash will see both fighters compete for The Ring and Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight championships.
This thrilling 12-round bout will be streamed live on Paramount+, marking a significant event as Australia’s Opetaia (with an undefeated record of 29 wins, including 23 knockouts) takes on Atlanta's Glanton (who holds a record of 21 wins, 3 losses, with 18 knockouts) in what promises to be a memorable main event at UFC's Meta APEX Performance Center.
At just 30 years old, Opetaia has become a standout fighter in the boxing world and is considered the top cruiserweight globally. His addition to Zuffa Boxing’s roster is particularly noteworthy, as it's one of the most significant announcements since the promotion's inception last year. An official from the International Boxing Federation (IBF) confirmed that Opetaia still retains his cruiserweight title and has shown no intention of vacating it. Meanwhile, Glanton is currently ranked 15th by the IBF, making him eligible to challenge for Opetaia's championship, although it remains uncertain whether the title will be on the line during their fight.
Initially, Zuffa Boxing, led by White, the president and CEO of UFC, indicated that they would not recognize titles from major sanctioning bodies like the IBF, WBA, WBC, or WBO. However, White recently acknowledged that fighters wouldn't be required to give up their titles to compete for the new promotional company’s belts.
Zuffa Boxing's recognition of Ring titles is largely attributed to the involvement of Turki Alalshikh, who chairs Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority and also holds a leadership role within Zuffa Boxing.
Since reclaiming his IBF belt in May 2024, Opetaia has successfully defended it four times, including a notable victory over Latvia's Mairis Briedis by unanimous decision in a rematch held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, Glanton, now 33, made headlines by stopping former WBA light heavyweight champion Marcus Browne in his latest bout on October 1 in Lagos, Nigeria. Prior to this, he faced a setback when he lost a unanimous decision to Chris Billam-Smith, a former WBO cruiserweight champion, on April 26 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The Ring currently ranks Glanton as the No. 10 contender for Opetaia's title, setting the stage for what could be a pivotal moment in both fighters' careers.
Keith Idec serves as a senior writer and columnist for The Ring, and you can follow his insights on Twitter at @idecboxing.
