Dana White Forced to Change Major Stance as Zuffa Boxing Makes Exception for Jai Opetaia

Zuffa Boxing, led by Dana White, is set to make its debut on January 24th with its first-ever boxing event. However, ahead of the event, the Saudi-backed promotion has made a massive move. Zuffa has signed unified Ring Magazine and IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. Still, White doesn’t own his complete promotional rights.

Opetaia will be co-promoted by his long-time promoter, Tasman Fighters, having last worked with Matchroom Boxing. This new deal has forced the UFC CEO to walk back some drastic claims he made prior to his promotion’s upcoming debut. Dana White had claimed his promotion won’t recognize titles from any sanctioning bodies, but it doesn’t appear to be the case. 

Is Dana White failing to find boxers for his promotion? 

Speaking to Boxing King Media recently, Mick Francis, Opetaia’s promoter, revealed he was initially concerned about negotiating a promotional deal with Zuffa Boxing because they didn’t recognize boxing’s traditional sanctioning bodies. “However, probably to sweeten the deal and to get Jai across the line, they will let Jai fight for the titles and unify the division,” Francis told the reporter. 

Zuffa will have a UBO (Unified Boxing Organization), which will control its own rankings and titles, separating it from traditional, independent sanctioning bodies like the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO. It’s currently unclear why White or Zuffa Boxing agreed to such a deal, having previously pushed back against allowing sanctioning bodies in their organization. It could be a sign that Zuffa is failing to sign good fighters. 

Regardless, this means Jai Opetaia can now fight the likes of WBO and WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez and WBC champion Noel Mikaelyan to unify his belts. David Benavidez is scheduled to face Ramirez later this year for the two titles, so if Benavidez emerges victorious, Opetaia may someday end up fighting ‘The Mexican Monster.’