Aussie boxing champion Jai Opetaia could be STRIPPED of world title because he chose to take up lucrative contract to fight in Saudi Arabia
- On December 23, the Australian will meet with the unbeaten Briton Ellis Zorro.
- The IBF warned that it would take away his belt if he fought
- Instead, the body wants to hold a rematch with Latvian Mairis Briedis.
Australian world boxing champion Jai Opetaia is on the verge of losing his IBF heavyweight title over his decision to compete in a lucrative tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Opeta, who has an impressive 23-0 record with 18 knockouts, opted for a salary of $680,000.
The Australian boxer will step into the ring against undefeated Briton Ellis Zorro (17-0, 7 KOs) on December 23 in a star-studded tournament that will feature Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois.
The Australian boxer, who won the IBF title against Latvia’s Mairis Briedis last year on the Gold Coast despite fighting with a broken jaw, is now drawing criticism from the IBF.
The federation insists Opetaia’s next fight will again be a mandatory title defense against Briedis. This comes as Opetaia will need another release having most recently fought Briton Jordan Thompson in October.
Australian world boxing champion Jai Opetaya could be stripped of his world title
The IBF said Opetaia’s next fight should be a mandatory title defense against Briedis.
“We have made it clear to Jay’s team that he cannot fight Ellis Zorro for the title,” the IBF said through a spokesman.
“We already gave Jai a waiver to fight Jordan Thompson in his last fight, so he cannot get another waiver to fight Zorro, who is not world-ranked.
“According to our rules, this is impossible. It cannot have consecutive exceptions.
“If we break the rules for Jai, it will open the floodgates for everyone else.
“The IBF notified Jay’s team that he couldn’t fight Zorro – we said his next fight had to be a mandatory fight against Briedis.
“If Jai Opetaya comes forward and fights Zorro, he will be stripped of his IBF world title.”
The Australian fighter is among the country’s top boxers and has signed a lucrative contract to fight in Saudi Arabia.
Opetaya is currently scheduled to fight undefeated Briton Ellis Zorro (17-0, 7 KOs).
Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis told News Corp that Briedis had no objection to Opetaia facing English boxer Ellis Zorro first.
However, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) insists that the Australian’s next fight will be a rematch between Opetaia and Briedis.
The controversy comes amid reports of a lucrative three-fight Saudi deal presented by the Saudis to Opetaye, which is said to be worth more than $2 million.
“The IBF is cruel,” Australian IBF bantamweight world champion Abani Bridges said in response.
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