IBF Cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia announced Friday night that he will join the new start up Zuffa Boxing promotion for their monthly fight series starting soon.
The new "player" in U.S., and even worldwide, boxing promotion, Zuffa Boxing, made a Friday night splash, when they announced they have signed IBF cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia.
The unbeaten hard punching Australian is the biggest prominent name to date to join the fledgling promotion, as it's set to begin a series of monthly fights starting next weekend.
On a brief social media post Opetaia said Friday night he's eager to get started with Zuffa.
"Hey, what's up everyone? It's Jai Opetaia" the video says. "I'm signed with Zuffa Boxing now. So, pumped for the future. Exciting time. Let's get these big fights over the line- unification, undisputed, too. Let's go."
This new outlet is the brainchild of and has the backing of both Saudi Entertainment Authority head Turki Alashikh and UFC President, Dana White
They have already secured a long-term deal with Paramount+ streaming service for a monthly fight series. The main event of the first of those fight cards is set for next Friday night, January 23, when unbeaten junior middleweight Callum Walsh of California battles veteran Carlos Ocampo.
Zuffa also has a deal with heavyweight contender Efe Ajagba, who is scheduled to be in the main event of their February fight card. Meanwhile, Opetaia is looking for a possible cruiserweight unification fight and there has been speculation that he may be looking to fight newly crowned WBC Cruiserweight champ Noel Mikaelian, who just defeated Badou Jack by decision in California to win his title in December.
The 30 year old Opetaia, just recently defended his IBF crown in December with an eighth round devastating knockout of Huseyin Cinkara in Broadbeach Australia. That was his fourth consecutive title defense by KO dating back to October of 2024.
There is a connection with Alashikh and Opetaia, as he previously fought three times on Riyadh Season cards in Saudi Arabia, including his rematch decision win over Maris Briedis in May of 2024. His last three fights have all been in his homeland.
As for Alashikh, he bankrolled the massive Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford undisputed super middleweight title bout in September at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and televised worldwide on Netflix. Crawford score a monumental wiin/upset in a 12 round decision over Canelo that night.
Boxing observers and fans are curious as to whether or not prominent fighters that are signing up with Zuffa have to make a long-term commitment of multiple fights? Or, will some of these deals be simply be short one or two fight deals. That's, because the bigger purses will be available on the open market for championship level fighters.
Opetaia will put that to the test fairly quickly.