The fight for Jai Opetaia’s cruiserweight title has moved from the ring to the courtroom.

The Samoan boxing star and former IBF cruiserweight champion has filed a civil lawsuit against the International Boxing Federation (IBF), alleging the organization violated the Muhammad Ali Reform Act and worked with other major boxing sanctioning bodies to harm him financially and professionally following his partnership with Zuffa Boxing.

The lawsuit, filed July 14 in Nevada federal court, comes months after Opetaia was stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title following his March bout against Brandon Glanton under the Zuffa Boxing banner.

Opetaia, who defeated Glanton in dominant fashion, claims the fight was not intended to bypass boxing’s traditional sanctioning system. According to the lawsuit, the bout was ceremonial in nature and promoted as part of Zuffa Boxing’s launch, while not being an attempt to undermine the IBF or the sport’s other major governing bodies.

The lawsuit alleges that the IBF initially approved and sanctioned the fight, with Opetaia paying $73,000 in sanctioning fees the day before the event. However, 11 days after his victory over Glanton, the IBF stripped Opetaia of his championship title.

Now, Opetaia is seeking to reclaim the belt he believes was wrongfully taken from him.

A Champion’s Journey

Opetaia has established himself as one of the most respected fighters in the cruiserweight division. The Australian-based Samoan boxer first captured the IBF cruiserweight championship in 2022 before reclaiming the title in 2024 after defeating Mairis Briedis by unanimous decision.

Following that victory, Opetaia successfully defended his IBF title four times before facing Glanton in March.

The lawsuit claims losing the championship created significant damage to Opetaia’s career, limiting future opportunities for major fights, including potential title unification matchups against other top contenders.

His legal team argues that the decision to strip him of the title was not simply a boxing ruling, but an action intended to punish him for aligning himself with Zuffa Boxing.

A Bigger Battle Over Boxing’s Future

The dispute comes at a time when professional boxing is facing major conversations about its future structure.

Zuffa Boxing, led by TKO Group Holdings and UFC CEO Dana White, has been pushing for the Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act, legislation that aims to reform how boxing promotions, rankings, and sanctioning operate.

The bill has created division within the sport, with supporters arguing it could modernize boxing and create a more unified system, while critics believe it could impact the independence of boxing’s traditional sanctioning bodies.

Opetaia’s lawsuit alleges that the IBF and other major sanctioning organizations acted together to retaliate against him after signing with Zuffa Boxing.

The IBF has not yet released a formal statement regarding the lawsuit, saying the organization will respond when appropriate.

For Opetaia, the battle is about more than a championship belt. It is about protecting his career, reputation, and place in boxing history.

The Samoan boxing champion now faces another challenge, one that will not be decided under the bright lights of a boxing ring, but inside a courtroom.