LAS VEGAS — Jai Opetaia delivered an impressive offensive performance to dominate Brandon Glanton and secure the title of the first Zuffa World Cruiserweight Champion with a comprehensive unanimous decision at the Meta Apex.
All three judges scored the bout 119-106.
Competing out of Gold Coast, Australia, Opetaia convincingly won every round in his debut fight on American soil, although he was unable to achieve a stoppage as Glanton displayed remarkable durability and resistance to punches.
“It was alright,” Opetaia stated. “I anticipated Brandon would be extremely tough. I’m pleased to have secured the victory and to begin this new chapter as the Zuffa champion.”
Opetaia (30-0, 23 KOs) faced little difficulty in overcoming a resolute yet significantly outmatched Glanton (21-4, 18 KOs), landing powerful shots and an uppercut that consistently found its target. The only moments of success for Glanton came when he was reprimanded by the referee and had a point deducted in rounds six and eight for holding and low blows, respectively. Opetaia also had a point deducted in Round 11 for excessive holding, but by that time, the fight was already well in hand.
The contest quickly became a one-sided affair as Opetaia unleashed punishing power shots to the head and body of a pursuing Glanton. Despite being regularly outpaced, Glanton continued to follow Opetaia but offered minimal offense while absorbing a steady barrage of punches. Opetaia incorporated uppercuts into his attack in Round 4, which became his most effective weapon for the remainder of the bout.
In Round 10, Opetaia overwhelmed Glanton with a range of heavy punches to both the head and body, yet his opponent demonstrated a resilient chin that would not yield. Even with a significant lead on the scorecards, Opetaia sought a finish in the final round, landing a straight left hand and combinations that severely hurt Glanton. However, Glanton managed to endure until the final bell, leaving Las Vegas with a sense of moral victory.
There was additional drama surrounding the fight between Opetaia and the IBF beyond the action in the ring. Opetaia entered the ring as the IBF cruiserweight champion but may face the loss of his title after the IBF declined to sanction the bout on Friday, stating that they were misled into believing that Zuffa’s championship would be merely a “trophy or token of recognition.”
At 30 years old, Opetaia signed with Zuffa Boxing in January with the ambition of becoming the undisputed champion at cruiserweight and reiterated that goal in his post-fight remarks.
“I’m pursuing the belts,” Opetaia remarked. “I understand there has been a lot of noise and discussion. A lot of activity on social media, but I’m just hoping it gets resolved so we can continue to pursue that goal. I have not lost sight of it, and I never will. I’ve been stripped once before. If it happens again, I will reclaim the belt and become undisputed.”
