Jai Opetaia is entirely focused on becoming undisputed despite his upcoming fight.
Zuffa Boxing now boasts a roster of 96 fighters, as a recent social media post from the promotion outlined.
Undoubtedly one of the biggest names on that list is the undefeated IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia.
Dana White signing Opetaia was a statement of intent, but the fighter has reminded his new promotion that he’s made this move with the expectation that they’ll get him the unification bouts that he wants.
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Jai Opetaia says he’ll be very disappointed if he doesn’t get a unification fight this year
On March 8, Jai Opetaia has the chance to make history by becoming the first ever Zuffa Boxing champion when he faces Brandon Glanton at the Meta Apex.
It has been argued that the time is now for the 30-year-old to be put into the biggest fights in his division, having already built a record of 29-0.
In an interview with RG’s Timothy Wheaton, Opetaia once again made it clear that his one goal is being the undisputed cruiserweight champion, and he won’t be happy if unification fights continue to elude him.
“Don’t take your mind off undisputed. We’re chasing unification fights. If we don’t get one by the end of the year, I’ll be very f—— disappointed. Undisputed. When you think of me, you think, ‘Bro, he wants to be undisputed.’ That’s it. I’m not worried about anyone else. I don’t chase names.”
There were some confused reactions to Opetaia signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing because the promotion originally planned to only acknowledge their own belt and The Ring title.
However, the UFC president has since said that they’ll work with each fighter on what’s best for them and in the case of the cruiserweight champion, he still has the option to fight on Riyadh Season events.
Who are the other champions in Jai Opetaia’s weight class?
With Jai Opetaia holding the IBF and The Ring cruiserweight titles, there are three other belts that he’d need to claim in order to be the undisputed champion.
The WBC belt belongs to Noel Mikaelian who reclaimed it in December by getting revenge over Badou Jack after the title swapped hands in their first bout.
Both of the other belts (WBA and WBO) are in the hands of one man, Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
Ramirez is set to put his unified status on the line against David Benavidez in one of the best matchups of the year at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 2.
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