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Zuffa Boxing⁤ Signs ⁤Cruiserweight Champion Jai Opetaia, Signaling Intent in New promotion

Zuffa Boxing, the recently launched venture from the owners of the UFC, has made its first notable roster addition ⁣by signing Jai Opetaia, the reigning IBF cruiserweight champion. The announcement, made via Zuffa Boxing’s official X account on January 16, 2026, marks a pivotal ⁤moment for the promotion as it aims to establish⁣ itself in the boxing world.

Opetaia’s Arrival: A Statement of Intent

Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) confirmed the signing in a video⁢ statement, expressing his excitement for the future and his desire to pursue unification bouts. “I’m with Zuffa Boxing⁢ now,” Opetaia stated.”I’m pumped for the future. Exciting times,man. Let’s get these big fights over the line:⁣ unification and undisputed too. Let’s go.”

The Australian fighter, 30, has ⁢long sought opportunities to unify the cruiserweight titles. Currently, Noel⁤ Mikaelian ⁤holds⁣ the WBC title, while⁢ Gilberto “Zurdo”⁤ Ramirez is the WBO and WBA⁤ champion.Ramirez is scheduled to defend his titles against David Benavidez in May, adding another layer of complexity to the division’s landscape.

Zuffa Boxing’s Strategy and Potential Impact

Zuffa boxing’s entry into the boxing market has been met with both anticipation and scrutiny.⁣ Owned by ⁤WME, the same⁢ group that owns the UFC and IMG