‘These fights have to happen’: Opetaia chasing undisputed status with Zuffa debut

Jay Opetia has to be the biggest name in Australian boxing, the gap to number 2 isn’t particularly close. The cruiserweight king, who was born in Sydney but fights out of the Gold Coast, has knocked out every opponent who has been brave enough to share the ring with him, and has collected IBF and Ring World Championship straps to cement his place among the modern-day greats of the sport.

In his 29 bouts as a professional, Opetaia has scored 23 knockouts and won the other six on points. He has defended the world title on seven occasions, most recently being awarded the third Max Kellerman’s Pound-for-Pound Best Boxers on the PlanetAnd, if things go according to plan, the cruiserweight division could soon be set to unify.

And yet despite his greatness, the accolades he is garnering and the path he has forged, Opetaia remains criminally underappreciated by large sections of the Australian public. As has been the case for many years, much attention is being paid to the battle circuses surrounding ex-football players, veterans and those who cannot support their never-ending trash talk.

“We’re not here to be the superstar and the most famous fighter,” Opetaia told ESPN. “We don’t like drama. We stay in our lane, you know.”

“The media loves drama. We just love to work hard and do what we have to do. It doesn’t get as much traction as the drama, but it is what it is. We just want to be undisputed and then hang out with our families.”

That unification goal has been front and center in Opetaia’s mind for the past 24 months, and after several failed attempts to write a date with Gilberto Ramirez (WBA/WBO) or Noel Mikaelian (WBC), he opted to sign an intriguing contract. zaffa boxing – Dana White and Turki Al-Sheikh’s new fighting venture that shares a similar model ufc.

Opetia will make his debut with Zuffa Boxing this Saturday evening [Sunday afternoon AEDT] in Las Vegas when he fights American Brandon Glanton (21-3, 18 KOs) for the promotion’s inaugural world title. Like the first three Zuffa Boxing events held in the first quarter of 2026, Opetaia and Glanton will headline a Meta Apex fight card, which will be streamed on Paramount+.

Reading: Everything You Need to Know About Zuffa Boxing

Some fight fans may see Opetaia’s switch to Zuffa Boxing as a lateral step, others a step backwards, but the Australian is adamant his career-defining decision will unlock the undisputed opportunity he has long craved.

“Zuffa Boxing has changed the game. These are the cards you have to work on,” explains Opetaia. “[Before I signed] There was mention of integration. We obviously have one thing to do before we get there [but] He said he could get me the WBC. The WBO and the WBA, it’s going to be a little difficult for us to deal with them, but I’m sure if we keep winning, these fights will happen.

“This is undisputed we’re talking about. If we’re not undisputed in this sport then what are we doing? I think it’s going to take one more fight to become undisputed, whether it’s me or them, I think it has to happen. I think Zuffa is going to be a big chapter in this era of boxing.”

Opetaia’s first Zuffa Boxing appearance came three months after his last fight, marking the seventh defense of his Ring cruiserweight title and fourth defense of the IBF belt. Opatiya stopped Hussein Sinkara With a crushing defeat in the eighth round, which left the German veteran unconscious on the canvas for several minutes. Sinkara was later taken to hospital where scans revealed he had a fractured neck.

Meanwhile, Glanton fought twice in 2025. The 33-year-old Atlanta native, who has been knocking on the world title door for most of his career, was defeated by unanimous decision against former WBO champion Chris Billum-Smith in April, before bouncing back with a sixth-round stoppage win over Marcus Browne in October.

“I know he’s tough. I know he’s strong. And I know he’s going to come to fight,” Opetaia said of Glanton, despite entering the fight as a favored opponent among bookmakers. “No matter who I’m fighting, we prepare for battle. We’ve been training hard and we’re ready to go. I’m ready!

“In an ideal world, I beat Brandon and then win the WBC, and then win the WBO and WBA. The WBC is with Mikaylian. The WBO and WBA are with Ramirez. Ramirez is fighting David Benavidez and we’re hoping to have a winner by the end of the year.”