Jai Opetaia has officially been stripped of the IBF Cruiserweight title

Once he gets CBS in the ring it will be ugly.

 

That will be a brutal contest. Both have way too much courage and zero quit in them. At least one hospital bed should be booked in advance.

 

I'd like to see Rozicki against Jai, Glanton on meth.

 

This really just Opetaia being caught in the crosshairs between Zuffa and the Traditional Organizations.

Dana/Zuffa's plan is to get all the top champions signed and have them fight under Zuffa and the organizations at first, to legitimize themselves, then stop recognizing their belts once they gain enough of a roster of the top champions.

Initially they will pay high to acquire and keep the top talent, but if and when the sink the other organizations, the pay will fall to resemble the UFC pay structure. Overall fighters will lose their leverage completely as there will be nowhere else to go.

It's good the organizations are pushing back a bit. Why should they be a party to their own demise?

 

And? He´s only made things worse for himself. Opetaia is not some unique snowflake who has had issues with getting the big fights.
I don´t see how his current situation is any better than the one beforehand. And now its the second time he has lost the IBF belt due to his career choices.

 

Since Usyk rejected the Kabayel fight, I'd like to see Usyk-Opetaia. Most probably ain't happening though.

 

Yes, it's impossible for that to happen. Usyk is being talked about facing Wilder as his final opponent. The Ukrainian champion is looking for a match against a big name with a high purse, such as Wilder in the US. Opetaia can't guarantee Usyk a high purse.

Opetaia said some time ago that he'd move up to heavyweight after unifying the cruiserweight division, but since he's now under contract with Zuffa Boxing the possibility of him unifying the titles is very remote (and he's no longer the IBF world champion, by the way). I'd love to see Benavidez - Opetaia, it would be a very interesting fight, but unfortunately, it's practically impossible right now.

 

No, he's made it better for himself because he's now making more money. There was no point sitting around waiting for something that was never going to happen anyway.