Jay Opetaia, the top signing for Zuffa Boxing, has chosen his inaugural opponent. On March 8th at Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Opetaia will square off against Brandon Glanton in the headline bout of Zuffa Boxing 04, as announced by Dana White. This fight will feature the Zuffa Boxing World Cruiserweight Title, marking the crowning of the first-ever Zuffa World Champion.
Opetaia, holding a record of 29 wins with no losses and 23 knockouts, is the current IBF cruiserweight champion. He claimed the title in 2022 after a tough battle defeating Mairis Briedis, despite suffering a double jaw fracture. Following a TKO defeat to Jordan Thompson, the IBF mandated a rematch with Briedis, leading Opetaia to temporarily relinquish the belt. During Briedis’s injury recovery, Opetaia fought Ellis Zollo in a standby match. Opetaia reclaimed the title by winning the rematch against Briedis by decision and has since defended it successfully four times, all by knockout — including a notable knockout of Hussein Chinkara, which was runner-up for the 2025 CBS Sports Knockout of the Year.
Though Opetaia aimed to unify all four major world cruiserweight titles, he was unable to secure such a fight and instead took on less challenging bouts, highlighted by a significant defense against Chris Billam-Smith in April 2025. His upcoming opponent, Glanton, has a record of 21 wins and 3 losses, with 18 knockouts, yet his recent form includes 4 wins and 3 losses in his last seven fights. Despite disappointing recent results, Glanton’s narrow defeats to fighters like David Wright, Soslan Asvalov (who was later suspended for six years due to a failed drug test), and a close loss to Billam-Smith demonstrate his competitiveness. Glanton’s power against lesser opponents means that Opetaia must remain cautious to avoid any upset.
Fan Take: This matchup is crucial for fight fans because it not only introduces Zuffa Boxing’s championship caliber but also sets the stage for the emergence of a new dominant cruiserweight force. Opetaia’s continued success could elevate the division’s prestige and bring fresh excitement to a weight class often overshadowed in the boxing world.
