Jai Opetaia Wins Inaugural Zuffa Boxing Cruiserweight Title

Opetaia dominates Brandon Glanton over 12 rounds to claim the new Zuffa Boxing 200-pound championship.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Jai Opetaia, the former IBF cruiserweight champion, is now the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight titleholder after a unanimous decision victory over Brandon Glanton at Zuffa Boxing 04 in San Antonio. Opetaia controlled the fight with his jab and precision punching, winning every round on the judges' scorecards despite Glanton's relentless pressure.

Why it matters

The creation of the Zuffa Boxing promotion has brought new opportunities for top cruiserweight and light heavyweight fighters to compete for world titles. Opetaia's victory establishes him as one of the premier 200-pound fighters in the sport and a potential future star for the new organization.

The details

Opetaia landed over 20 punches in six of the last eight rounds, while never allowing Glanton to land more than 14 in a single round. Despite Glanton's toughness and forward pressure, Opetaia's superior boxing skills and punch accuracy proved to be the difference as he cruised to a lopsided unanimous decision victory.

  • The fight took place on March 25, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas.

The players

Jai Opetaia

A former IBF cruiserweight champion who is now the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight titleholder.

Brandon Glanton

Opetaia's opponent, who put up a tough fight but was ultimately outclassed over 12 rounds.

Dana White

The president of the UFC, who was present at the Zuffa Boxing 04 event.

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What’s next

Opetaia's victory establishes him as one of the top cruiserweights in the sport, and he will likely defend his new Zuffa Boxing title in the coming months.

The takeaway

Opetaia's dominant performance shows that the new Zuffa Boxing promotion is attracting top-level talent and producing high-quality championship fights. His victory is a significant milestone for the fledgling organization as it looks to make its mark in the sport.