IBF Statement: Late last evening the IBF received notice from Michael Francis representing Jai Opetaia advising that Opetaia has decided to relinquish his title as IBF World Cruiserweight Champion. In an email to IBF President Daryl Peoples and the IBF Board of Directors, Francis noted the team’s disappointment in having to reach this decision but acknowledged the IBF rules that affect this situation should be adhered to.
The IBF accepts Jai Opetaia’s decision to vacate the title and wishes him well.
Mairis Briedis, who is ranked #3 in the IBF Cruiserweight ratings, will be ordered to negotiate with the next leading available contender for the vacant IBF Cruiserweight World Championship bout.
I don’t care if boxers relinquish or the boxing organizations change the rules etc etc etc
I just wanna see putasos
Screw that pathetic organisation. Jai is blatantly the best in the division. Sure he will win one of the other belts if he desires
They wanted him to fight Briedis and I heard that Briedis had no problem with him taking the fight against Zorro, provided Briedis was next up. Even worse is the fact that the last time Mairis Briedis fought was against Opetaia which was almost a year and a half ago! Zurdo is #4, I’m pretty sure he’ll take the fight no problem and I expect him to beat a Briedis who will be 39 by that time and have been off for well over 18 months.
Let Mairis win it back and then we get to see the rematch, like they couldn’t have arranged some step aside money to delay it 3mths. Can’t blame Jai for wanting some of that mucho Saudi cash though
The sanctioning bodies are sick and disgusting. They have collectively destroyed boxing which is now a minor sport. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE.
Here here, totally agree!!
We have the power to do something. They only have credibility if we give them it. Stop giving it to them. If a fighter has an IBF title, ask them when they are going to fight for a real title. When a fighter has the other 3 call them undisputed. Stop calling it the 4 belt era. It isn’t. The WBC, WBA and WBO are the only belts that matter from now on, and if they don’t get their houses in order they will be taken out of the equation also. Let’s do this. It takes a group effort, but you all know it is past time to make this simple change.
More need to give up these meaningless belts and put all of them out of business. Real fans know who the champions are.
Jai is the best cruiserweight in the world and can’t stand these sanctioning bodies that do their best to ruin this sport.
In saying that, I think it’s the right decision as champions need to fight their mandatories. Things will only get worse if you give the champs even more control to choose who they fight.
IBF founder Robert W. Lee was convicted in 2000 of money laundering, tax evasion, and interstate travel to aid in racketeering. He had been charged with taking $338,000 in bribes from promoters & managers to fix rankings & sanction fights!
Only one part of the corruption fiasco was put on trial, and the promoters?
This is all just a sickening way of making Jai go back to Latvia to re-win the title that is rightfully his. Screw the IBF for this and for painting it like he vacated when it is clear that he was stripped. I am ready to drop the IBF and bring an end to the 4 belt era. Who’s with me?
The best thing that anyone has ever done was when WBC light heavyweight champion Graciano Rocchigianni successfully sued the WBC and was awarded a $30 million dollar judgement. The WBC nearly went bankrupt!
their should be at least 1 organization which should be for the fighter and NOT the money
The IBF probably didn’t get offered the sanctioning fee they wanted. Organisation’s like them are just parasites and grifters.