Joy Opetaya: Former world champion cruiserweight sues IBF to regain world title

The lawsuit centers on the fallout from 31-year-old Opetire’s decision to sign with Zuffa Boxing, the new promotion launched by UFC president Dana White and Saudi Arabia-owned Sela and American company TKO.

Opetaira’s first fight under the promotion came in March against Brandon Glanton in Las Vegas. He was scheduled to defend the IBF world title on the same night that Zuffa Boxing introduced its inaugural cruiserweight championship belt.

According to the complaint, the IBF initially approved the arrangements, accepted a $73,000 (£54,000) sanctioning fee and appointed an official to oversee the contest before withdrawing its approval less than 48 hours before fight night.

The suit argues that the IBF later considered the bout a title unification because a Juffa boxing belt was also contested.

Apetaya disputed this explanation, saying the organization had already admitted that the Zuffa belt was only a “trophy or token of recognition” rather than a championship of another sanctioning body. He said there was no legitimate basis for the IBF to reverse its position.

The filing said Opetaya was “placed in an impossible position” by the late decision, forcing him to withdraw from a contest he had been preparing for for months and lose “his seven-figure compensation” or continue fighting and “risk being stripped of his championship.”

Opetaia decided to box, defeating Glanton by unanimous decision before the IBF subsequently relinquished his title.

The suit also alleges that the IBF’s actions were “the product of a concerted, industry-wide collusion designed to punish Jay for signing with Zuffa Boxing and to deter other athletes from doing the same”.

There is precedent for a fighter to be reinstated as world champion after legal action.

In 2004, the WBC was forced out after losing a £17 million legal battle against former champion Graziano Rochigiani.

Rocchigiani won the vacant WBC light-heavyweight title in March 1998 when it was vacated by Roy Jones Jr.

But Jones decided he wanted to keep the belt and the WBC reinstated him as champion in June 1998.

In addition to compensation, the WBC was ordered to recognize Rochigiani as champion from 1998-2000.