Jai Opetaia vs Brandon Glanton for the ZUFFA Boxing Cruiserweight title to headline Z04 on March 8

Jai by KO.

 

I voted for Opetaia. His speed, distance control, and very good footwork will allow him to handle Glanton's aggression and power well, without getting drawn into a dangerous battle, and he'll win by decision. If my prediction proves correct, I hope to see Opetaia against the winner of the Benavidez-Ramirez bout, perhaps in the second half of 2026.

 

Glanton will end up similar to Cetinkaya, he will have a few moments in the fight, but it won't be enough.

 

This content is protected

 

No mention of the IBF belt in any of the announcements. Maybe they've told Jai to just vacate it and just go with the Ring and Zuffa belts?

 

It will be for the IBF, Ring and Zuffa belt. If the other champions don't want to fight you, just fight for random, made up titles!

 

Go Jai, champion.

 

Oooh doggy..it's going to a Saaa-moan umu that night. Jai going to make a roast pua'a out of poor old Brandon.

Che-hooooo.

 

The way he was talking about his performance after Cinkara, I wouldn't want to be Glanton.

 

This content is protected

 

Glanton can bang but Opetaia is the best cruiserweight in the world. So the smart money is on Opetaia.

 

White and Zuffa playing very smart chess here.

The Zuffa belt, like every other belt, is only as good as the guy wearing it and Zuffa aim for their first belt to be won by the best fighter in his division and a guy who already happens to be Lineal and IBF champion.

But even if Opetaia were to lose, Glanton would still become the man who beat the man (Ring/Lineal champion) - plus he's an American - so there is no loss in this for Zuffa.

 

It is about three weeks away and I'm getting impatient, I feel that boxing politics has had a negative impact on Jai's career once he hit international level and I badly want to see him get the fights he craves. He might lose eventually, but he'll give it a crack. I'm also well over DHs putting him down for fighting mandated opponents, what else should he do, surrender the belt and run?