Jai Opetai’s fight against Brandon Glanton is still moving forward, but veteran reporter Dan Rafael says the issue that caused the IBF title to be removed from the fight had to do with how the belt was presented during fight week. Rafael reported that IBF president Daryl Peoples believes that the organization’s title was shown as secondary to Zuffa’s belt during a recent press conference.

This explanation makes the argument about the presentation rather than the match itself. Rafael wrote that Peoples objected to the way the belts were arranged at the press, with Zuffa’s belt posed for the cameras while Opetaia held the IBF title rather than raising it in the usual manner towards the audience.

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Last update: 2026/03/07 at 15:51

Ryan Garcia has named one opponent he’s eager to face next, even though that particular fighter is negotiating for another opportunity.

The 27-year-old scored a dominant victory over Mario Barrios, whom he defeated in the first round, and then announced a unanimous verdict.

In this way, Garcia dethroned his fighter and became the WBC welterweight champion, securing his first victory since 2023.

Indeed, many took issue with the fact that “King Ry,” who suffered a unanimous decision loss to Rolando Romero last May, was given an immediate title shot against Barrios.

Previously in April 2024, Garcia tested positive twice for the banned substance ostarine, causing his majority victory over Devin Haney to be declared a no contest.

Garcia was also given a one-year ban by the Modern York State Athletic Commission, but is now considered one of the sport’s best-selling champions.

And while it has yet to be confirmed what the American will do next, it appears that a rematch with WBO welterweight champion Haney is at the top of his list.

Moving on to social mediaGarcia expressed interest in their potential unification match.

“I want to make this clear. If we can figure this out, I will fight this fight next. Point to blank period. #GarciaHaney2.”

Although Haney has also previously expressed interest in their possible rematch, it now appears that the 27-year-old will likely enter a unification fight with Romero.

There are rumors that “The Dream” will face his WBA counterpart on May 30, with the fight set to be headlined at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

LONDON – Eddie Hearn said he wanted to aid Tom Aspinall found his motivation again after signing a business deal with the UFC heavyweight champion.

Aspinall (15-3) announced on Thursday that he has signed with Hearn’s newly formed Matchroom talent agency, meaning the British promoter will aid him manage his career and business interests.

Aspinall has not fought since October against Ciryl Gane, when the fight was stopped prematurely after Aspinall was repeatedly poked in the eye. He has since undergone eye surgery.

Hearn said when he first spoke to Aspinall last week, you might have thought the UFC champion lacked the spark usually associated with a fighter of his stature.

“Sometimes when I say it… I don’t want him to be offended by it. When I first talked to him, I felt like I was talking to someone who didn’t realize who he was and what he was about,” Hearn said at a news conference Friday.

“Who is a huge star. A huge world star, one of the biggest in combat sports.

“In fact, the worst person in the world. Sometimes you can impose a narrative: it dampens your mood, and two: it just makes you feel like ‘I don’t really want to do this anymore.’

“When I was talking to him and he started talking about his injuries and multiple surgeries, I thought, ‘Man, we need to get over this and realize how large you are.’

“I see a man who is determined to get back there and I don’t want to say prove, he doesn’t have to prove, he fought everyone who came before him.”

Aspinall said he is still receiving advice from doctors, but has returned to featherlight training and wants to return to the octagon as soon as possible.

The 32-year-old expressed hope that he could take his commercial value to the next level by bringing Hearn into the fold, especially considering he has been forced to sit on the sidelines recently.

“As athletes, we have a miniature window in which we can make a lot of money. Considering what has happened in my career, my recent injuries, I want to make as much money as possible. I want to provide for my family from generation to generation,” Aspinall said.

“It was tough as hell. It was tough to be in the position I was in, and a lot of people thought about what they thought about you. Of course, I want to come back from it.”

Aspinall is still under contract with the UFC, and Hearn said he has no plans to move into boxing.

However, Hearn’s rivalry with UFC boss Dana White – who now also heads Zuffa Boxing – has intensified in recent weeks. White and Zuffa signed British player Conor Benn, whom Matchroom described as their biggest star of the future.

While there have been plenty of verbal spats between the two in the media, Aspinall’s alliance with Hearn marks a major victory for Matchroom, which will now work with the UFC and White on Aspinall, one of the biggest stars in the sport.