Jai Opetaia defends cruiserweight title against Brandon Glanton in Las Vegas

Australia's top boxer Jai Opetaia takes on undefeated American Brandon Glanton for the Ring Magazine and Zuffa cruiserweight titles.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Australia's pound-for-pound number one boxer, Jai Opetaia, will defend his Ring Magazine cruiserweight title against undefeated American Brandon Glanton in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 8 (Monday, March 9 in Australia). The bout will also crown the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight champion. Glanton, from Atlanta, Georgia, has never been stopped or knocked down in 24 professional fights and boasts 18 KO wins.

Why it matters

This fight marks Opetaia's U.S. and Zuffa Boxing debut as he continues to target unification bouts with the division's other champions. A win would cement Opetaia's status as one of the top cruiserweights in the world and set up potential high-profile matchups down the line.

The details

Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) is coming off a knockout win over Huseyin Cinkara in December, while Glanton (21-3, 18 KOs) last fought in October, stopping Marcus Browne in six rounds. The bout will take place at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, with the main card starting at 1 p.m. AEDT / 12 p.m. AEST on Monday, March 9, and Opetaia and Glanton expected to enter the ring around 2 p.m. AEDT / 1 p.m. AEST.

  • The bout takes place on Sunday, March 8 in Las Vegas (Monday, March 9 in Australia).
  • The main card is due to begin at 1 p.m. AEDT / 12 p.m. AEST, with Opetaia and Glanton expected to step into the ring around 2 p.m. AEDT / 1 p.m. AEST.

The players

Jai Opetaia

Australia's pound-for-pound number one boxer and the current Ring Magazine cruiserweight champion.

Brandon Glanton

An undefeated American cruiserweight boxer from Atlanta, Georgia, with a record of 21-3 and 18 KO wins.

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What’s next

The winner of the Opetaia vs. Glanton bout will become the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight champion, in addition to Opetaia defending his Ring Magazine title. This could set up unification fights for Opetaia against the other cruiserweight champions.

The takeaway

This fight represents a significant opportunity for Jai Opetaia to showcase his skills on the global stage and take another step towards becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion. A win over the undefeated Glanton would further cement Opetaia's status as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.