Roy Jones Jr. Advises Jai Opetaia to Drop Zuffa Boxing Title

Former four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr. has weighed in on the complicated situation surrounding cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, who recently became the first holder of a Zuffa Boxing title.

Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Jones made it clear that he believes Opetaia should walk away from the belt.

“I advise Jai to return that Zuffa belt and go back to regular boxing, because the Zuffa title won’t make you undisputed champion,” Jones said.

The American legend emphasized that such a move could slow down Opetaia’s long-term career progress.

“It’s not for you, because it takes years to become the undisputed world champion, and the Zuffa belt gets in the way. And if at some point they don’t like you, they might not even rank you,” he added.

It’s worth noting that the International Boxing Federation (IBF) recently stripped Opetaia of his world title following his win over Brandon Glanton. The reason was that the bout was contested for a Zuffa belt—an organization not recognized by the IBF.

The situation leaves Opetaia in a delicate position, as his choice between alternative titles and traditional boxing organizations could prove decisive for the future of his career.