The criticism came when reporters asked about the IBF’s decision earlier in the week to withdraw recognition of Opetai’s title defense during fight week. The sanctioning body initially approved the fight before changing course shortly before the event, leaving the IBF title on the line.

Dana said the situation reflects issues he has noticed since starting his playing career.

“This sport is broken for a reason,” Dana said during the press conference. “They’re all a bunch of rinky-dink.”

White continued the criticism by describing those involved in running the sport.

“These people are bad at what they do,” Dana said.

Dana also noted that Opetaia had already paid the sanction fee before the IBF withdrew recognition of the title defense.

Dana said his early boxing experiences surprised him with how the sport works and how many of its problems remain unresolved.

White said Zuffa plans to exploit the same promotional model that helped build the UFC. This approach focuses on acquiring players that the organization considers among the best in their divisions and organizing regular events built around recognizable names.

Dana also pointed to the number of promoters and sanctioning bodies operating in boxing as one of the reasons the sport is struggling to solve many of its long-standing problems. Several organizations sanction world championship titles in the sport, often requiring separate approval and fees when belts are put on the line.

White argued that the structure created complications when trying to stage major fights. The IBF situation surrounding the Opetaia fight was one of the first disputes between Zuffa Boxing and the classic sanctioning body since the promotion entered the sport.

The comments reflected Dana’s view that many of boxing’s problems stem from the way the sport is run.

Fabio Wardley had hoped to face Oleksandr Usyk in 2026, but Ukraine’s unified heavyweight ruler instead opted to fight Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on the left wing.

After knocking out Joseph Parker and winning the WBO interim heavyweight titleWardley has called for a showdown with Usyk, hoping to secure a shot at the coveted undisputed throne.

However, Usyk responded by vacating the WBO world title – as a result, Wardley was elevated to the world title – and he was linked with a return to fighting overseas in possible meetings with Deontay Wilder or Andy Ruiz Jr.

Instead, two weeks ago it was announced that Usyk would travel to Cairo, Egypt, to defend his WBC heavyweight title against Verhoeven, who boasts a professional boxing record of just 1-0.

In an interview with Boxing News, Wardley admitted that the news was “disappointing” for him and expressed hope that Usyk would return to “real” professional boxing soon.

“I think so [my reaction] he was just like the rest of the boxing world [the announcement] was quite disappointing. I understand that he has earned the right to do whatever he wants, but at least I expected that to be the case [against] energetic boxer.

“I don’t actually know much about Verhoeven in terms of his level of quality, but I expected it [the fight] to be against a professional boxer of decent caliber, but if you’re not, that’s fine, do your thing.

I hope he returns to real professional boxing against some of the top elites.”

The Usyk-Verhoeven gala will take place on Saturday, May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza, and Verhoeven has a chance to become the fastest world heavyweight champion in boxing history.

LAS VEGAS – Jai Opetaia put together a stunning offensive display to demolish Brandon Glanton and become the inaugural Zuffa World Cruiserweight Champion via unanimous decision at Meta Apex on Sunday.

All three judges scored the fight 119-106.

Fighting on the Gold Coast, Australia, Opetaia easily won every round in his first fight on American soil, but was unable to obtain a knockout due to Glanton’s exceptional punch resistance.

“It’s okay,” Opetaia said. “I knew Brandon would be tough as nails. I’m ecstatic to get the victory and enter my next chapter as a Zuffa champion.”

Opetaia (30-0, 23 KO) had little trouble against the determined but badly outmatched Glanton (21-4, 18 KO), choking him with demanding shots and an uppercut that was impossible to miss. Glanton was cautioned by the referee and deducted a point in rounds 6 and 8 for holding and low blows, respectively. Opetaia was also deducted a point in round 11 for excessive holding, but the fight was already out of control.

The fight quickly became one-sided as Opetaia landed brutal shots to Glanton’s head and body. Although Glanton was regularly beaten, he continued to trail Opetaia but offered almost nothing offensive, while adopting a steady diet of right and left. Opetaia added uppercuts to his offensive repertoire in round 4 and this proved to be his most effective punch for the rest of the fight.

Opetaia torched Glanton in round 10 with various weighty punches to the head and body, but his opponent refused to break. Even with a wide margin on the scorecards, Opetaia went for a knockout in the final round and badly hurt Glanton with straight left hands and combinations. But Glanton survived until the final bell and will leave Las Vegas with a moral victory.

There was more drama between Opetaia and the IBF leading up to the fight than what happened in the ring. Opetaia entered the fight as the IBF cruiserweight champion, but could be stripped of his title after the IBF declined to sanction the fight on Friday, issuing a statement saying it was misrepresented that Zuffa’s championship would be nothing more than an item that would be “characterized as a trophy or token of recognition.”

Opetaia, 30, signed with Zuffa Boxing in January with the goal of becoming the undisputed cruiserweight, and he maintained that goal in his post-fight comments.

“I’m chasing lanes,” Opetaia said. “I know there’s been a lot of white noise and stuff. A lot of it on social media, but I hope everything clears up and we can still work towards that goal. I haven’t lost sight of that and I never have. I’ve already been stripped once. I’ve been stripped again. I’ll get the belt back and go undisputed.”