Jai Opetaia sues IBF over title stripping, alleges conspiracy to punish him for Zuffa Boxing signing

Australian cruiserweight boxer Jai Opetaia has filed a 123-paragraph lawsuit against the IBF in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada on July 14, 2026, alleging the sanctioning body unlawfully stripped him of its cruiserweight title after he signed a promotional deal with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing. Opetaia claims the IBF conspired with other sanctioning bodies and prominent boxing figures to retaliate against him for joining Zuffa Boxing and to discourage other fighters from making similar deals.