Dana White and Zuffa Boxing announce first title fight

Kerr Ferguson

Dana White and Zuffa Boxing announce first title fight
Image credit: Getty

Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing will crown its inaugural champion next month.

The newest boxing promotion on the block has promised big things for the sport, looking to break the mould set by the four major sanctioning bodies, the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF.

While White may have recently dialled back on a previous promise not to work with those organisations, he continues to push ahead with the introduction of a Zuffa championship, and the cruiserweight division will host the first title fight.

Marquee signing Jai Opetaia, who announced his move to Zuffa by reiterating his desire to become undisputed via the traditional system, will face hard-hitting Brandon Glanton on March 8 for the belt. Glanton, who has 18 knockouts to his name, bounced back from a loss to Chris Billam Smith last year with a win over Marcus Browne. Opetaia – IBF Cruiserweight World Champion since 2022 with a brief pause in 2023 – is undefeated and considered the best in the division.

With signings still taking place, how Opetaia, or indeed Glanton, defend their belt following this clash remains to be seen. What will be interesting for fans, however, is how the IBF plays a part.

With Opetaia still keen on facing either WBC champion Noel Mikaelian or WBA and WBO titleholder Gilberto Ramirez, the IBF must approve this defence – or unification of sorts – for him to keep his title. Glanton is currently ranked at number 15 with the sanctioning body. The fight tops a card at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on March 8.

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