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‘These fights have to happen’: Opetaia in pursuit of undisputed status in Zuffa debut

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Jai Opetaia should be the biggest name in Australian boxing and the gap to second place in the rankings is not particularly vast. The cruiserweight king, who was born in Sydney but fights on the Gold Coast, crushed any opponent brave enough to share the ring with him and won the IBF and Ring World Championship belts to cement his place among the contemporary titans of the sport.

In his 29 fights as a professional, Opetaia scored 23 knockouts and won the remaining six on points. He defended his world title seven times, most recently taking third place in the rankings Max Kellerman’s best boxers in the worldand, if all goes according to plan, the cruiser division may soon be unified.

And yet, despite its greatness, the accolades it has won and the path it is blazing, Opetaia continues to be criminally underrated by much of the Australian public. As has been the case for several years, there seems to be more attention being paid to the fight circuses involving ex-players, ex-players and those who simply cannot back up their endless slander.

“We’re not here to be superstars and the most renowned fighters,” Opetaia tells ESPN. “We don’t like drama. You know, we stay in our lane.

“The media loves drama. We just love working challenging and doing what we have to do. It doesn’t get as much attention as drama, but it is what it is. We just want to be unquestioned and then spend time with our families.”

The goal of unification has been front and center for Opetai over the past 24 months, and after several failed attempts at securing a date with either Gilberto Ramirez (WBA/WBO) or Noel Mikaelian (WBC), he has opted to sign an intriguing contract with Zuffa Boxing – the fresh venture of Dana White and Turki Al-Sheikh, which has a similar model to the UFC.

Opetaia will make her Zuffa Boxing debut this Saturday evening [Sunday afternoon AEDT] in Las Vegas, where he will fight American Brandon Glanton (21-3, 18 KO) for the inaugural world title of this organization. Similar to the first three Zuffa Boxing events that took place in the first quarter of 2026, Opetaia and Glanton will headline the Meta APEX fight card, which will stream on Paramount+.

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Some fight fans may see Opetai’s move to Zuffa Boxing as a lateral move, others as a step back, but the Australian is adamant that his career-defining decision will unlock the undisputed opportunity he has long desired.

“Zuffa Boxing has changed the game. These are the cards you have to play with,” explains Opetaia. “[Before I signed] there was mention of unification. Clearly we have work to do before we get there [but] they said they could get me a WBC. The WBO and WBA are a bit harder for us to deal with, but I’m sure if we keep winning, these fights will have to happen.

“We’re talking about it in no uncertain terms. If we’re not here to be undisputed in this game, then what are we doing? I feel like when one more fight is made to become undisputed, whether it’s me or them, I feel like that’s got to happen. I feel like Zuffa is going to be an essential chapter in the era of boxing.”

Opetaia’s first appearance for Zuffa Boxing was three months after his last fight, which was his seventh defense of the Ring cruiserweight title and fourth defense of the IBF belt. Opetaia stopped Huseyin Cinkara with a crushing eighth-round knockout that left the German veteran unconscious on the canvas for several minutes. Cinkara was later taken to hospital, where an X-ray revealed he had broken his neck.

Meanwhile, Glanton fought two fights in 2025. The 33-year-old from Atlanta, who has been knocking on the world title door for most of his career, was defeated by a unanimous decision over former WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith in April, then rebounded with a sixth-round victory over Marcus Browne in October.

“I know he’s mighty. I know he’s mighty. And I know he’ll come to fight,” Opetaia said of Glanton, even though he entered the fight as the bookmakers’ clear favorite. “No matter who I’m fighting, we’re preparing for war. We’re training challenging and we’re ready to go. I’m fucking ready!”

“In a perfect world, I beat Brandon and then I win the WBC and then the WBO and WBA. The WBC is with Mikaelian. The WBO and WBA is with Ramirez. Ramirez fights David Benavidez and we hope to have a winner by the end of this year.”

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Joshua vs Fury Confirmed for December 11 in Cardiff on Netflix

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"Joshua vs Fury Confirmed for December 11 in Cardiff on Netflix"

Principality Stadium secures the British heavyweight fight, with a London press conference next week and the undercard to follow.

Anthony Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs) and Tyson Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) will fight at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday, December 11. Netflix will broadcast the full event exclusively after organizers secured a British venue for the heavyweights’ first professional meeting.

Turki Alalshikh announced the fight, and Joshua and Fury are scheduled to attend a London press conference next week. The supporting card will be announced later; no undercard opponents were named in the supplied announcement.

The December date replaces the November plan discussed earlier in negotiations. Wembley had been Joshua’s preferred destination, but Cardiff secured the event following talks over whether the fight would remain in Britain or move to the United States.

Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn insisted on a UK venue. His contract included that requirement, and their position held despite discussions involving New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Dana White said: “For more than a decade, boxing fans have been clamoring for the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Together, they bring 66 wins, 52 knockouts and multiple heavyweight world titles into the ring. On December 11, two of the biggest heavyweights of this generation finally collide and the winner will take a significant place in heavyweight history.”

Netflix to broadcast the full Cardiff card

Netflix’s preference for an evening American broadcast drove the push to stage the fight across the Atlantic. Madison Square Garden emerged as the leading US option before negotiations returned to Britain.

Cardiff keeps the contest on British soil, with a late opening bell expected to accommodate viewers in the United States.

The main event is expected around 1 a.m. UK timealthough the exact time has not been confirmed. If that schedule holds. A 1 a.m. GMT start would put the main event at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, December 11 for viewers on America’s east coast.

The fight is expected to take place beneath Principality Stadium’s retractable roof.

London press conference scheduled for next week

Alalshikh welcomed the agreement after months of negotiations over the event.

“Two of the best heavyweights of this generation, finally in the ring together. This will be one of the biggest fights in boxing history, I am very happy to make this fight happen for the fans,” he said.

Joshua and Fury previously signed a two-fight agreement in 2021. That booking collapsed after an arbitration ruling required Fury to face Deontay Wilder again.

Their December meeting now has a confirmed date, venue and broadcaster. Next week’s press conference will bring both fighters to London, with the remaining card and precise event timetable still to follow.

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Manny Pacquiao and Shakur Stevenson Discuss Potential Fight in Cardiff

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"Manny Pacquiao and Shakur Stevenson Discuss Potential Fight in Cardiff"

Manny Pacquiao against Shakur Stevenson remains under discussion for the proposed Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury card in Cardiff. It would give the event a second major fight, but neither Pacquiao nor Stevenson has received a bout agreement.

BoxingScene’s Lance Pugmire reports that two people connected to the talks say Netflix wants the matchup as part of a “double main event.” December 11 is the date under consideration at Principality Stadium, with December 18 also possible. Pacquiao adviser Jas Mathur told BoxingScene that Pacquiao’s financial terms are still being negotiated.

That leaves a great deal to settle before anyone can call this a fight. The Cardiff show itself has yet to be formally announced, and moving Joshua-Fury from the previously discussed Madison Square Garden setting means assembling the rest of the card around a different venue and date.

Pacquiao-Stevenson would bring two very different attractions to that card. Stevenson, 29, is coming off his January win over Teofimo Lopez and has since signed with Zuffa Boxing. Pacquiao, 47, drew with Mario Barrios in his July 2025 return. His name would draw attention far beyond the usual boxing audience, though the long layoff and age difference would become part of the conversation as soon as the fight was announced.

The proposed pairing also raises a practical question: what weight would they fight at? Pacquiao’s return came at welterweight, while Stevenson’s recent work has been at lighter weights. No weight, number of rounds, or title terms have been announced.

For now, the news is that Pacquiao-Stevenson has survived the reported switch to Cardiff and remains in Netflix’s plans, according to BoxingScene. The decisive development would be agreements reaching both fighters. Until then, it belongs on the list of fights being negotiated, rather than the Joshua-Fury undercard.

Pacquiao turns 48 on December 17. If the fight lands on December 18, Shakur would face him one day after his birthday. Pacquiao won his first world title in 1998, before Shakur turned two.

That age difference makes the matchup a hard sell as a competitive fight. If Shakur wins easily, how much credit does he get for beating a man nearly two decades older? If he boxes his way to a quiet decision, Pacquiao’s name may bring viewers to Netflix, but the fight may give them little reason to watch Shakur again.

Pacquiao’s fame can make this a major event. Turning it into a fight that helps Shakur is another matter. First, both men need to agree to terms; neither has received a bout agreement.

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BoxingNews24.com has delivered independent boxing coverage since 2007, including original news, fight analysis, schedules, and results. Our experienced boxing writers cover major fighters and events worldwide, with published content reviewed by editors for accuracy.

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Teofimo Lopez Set to Defend World Title on Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua Undercard – Boxing News

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"Teofimo Lopez Set to Defend World Title on Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua Undercard - Boxing News"

Teofimo Lopez has been offered a slot on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua card, which is set to take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.

‘The Takeover’ comes off a majority decision victory over Rolando Romero, who he dethroned last month after surviving a genuine scare in round five.

In reality, though, it was a far more convincing win than the scorecards suggested and, despite suffering a one-sided defeat to Shakur Stevenson in January, Lopez proved that he remains a highly-skilled operator at world level.

But while he has expressed an interest in unification matches at 147lbs, particularly one against WBC champion Ryan Garcia, the 29-year-old must first make a mandatory defence and retain his WBA title.

He has, in other words, been ordered to face Jack Catterallwho claimed his WBA ‘Regular’ title by producing arguably a career-best performance to unanimously outpoint Shakhram Giyasov in May.

Lopez, meanwhile, had attempted to swerve his mandatory duty and, according to boxing journalist Dan Rafaelis considering vacating his welterweight belt in pursuit of more lucrative opportunities.

If he is to proceed with the Catterall fight, however, then the three-division world champion could end up featuring on the expected Fury-Joshua card later this year.

Equally, Catterall has taken to social media and acknowledged that, as the champion, Lopez can choose to defend his title on home soil.

“Hey mate [Lopez]you fancy scrapping on the [Fury-Joshua] card? If not don’t worry, I’ll come to America and get my belt. Either way I’ll see you soon champ.”

According to WBA president Gilberto Mendoza, both parties have until October 22 to reach an agreement or risk a purse bid hearing being called.

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