Cruiserweight phenom Jai Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) looks forward to his first fight of the year come March 8. The Aussie went 3-0 in 2025 and kept his undefeated record intact.
Now, he’s scheduled to face Brandon Glanton (21-3, 18 KOs) in Las Vegas as his first fight under the Zuffa Boxing banner.
This fight will also double as the crowning of the first ever Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight champion.
Glanton is coming off a win over Marcus Browne via TKO. He lost a decision to Chris Billam-Smith, however, in the fight before that.
Having first won a world title gold in 2022, Jai has been one of the most feared fighters in the cruiserweight division. He currently holds the IBF and Ring magazine belts.
Matchmaking in the cruiserweight division has been inconsistent in recent years. The absence of fights between the top boxers has created a situation where three champions each hold a claim to being the division’s best.
The other champions at cruiserweight are Noel Mikaelyan who holds the WBC belt, and Zurdo Ramirez who is the WBA and WBO titleholder.
David Benavidez, the light heavyweight champion, will be added to the mix as he is booked to fight Ramirez on May 2.
Many expect an easy win for Opetaia, but boxing history reminds us to count no opponent out.