Jai Opetaia’s dream of becoming an undisputed world champion is in tatters.The Aussie has been officially stripped of the IBF cruiserweight title following a meeting held by the major sanctioning body’s board of directors last week.YouTube/Zuffa BoxingThe IBF withdrew its sanctioning of Opetaia’s last fight against Glanton[/caption]Opetaia and his team were informed of the IBF’s decision to no longer recognise him as a world champion on Monday.The ruling comes two weeks after Opetaia met Brandon Glanton in an unsanctioned fight at Zuffa Boxing 4.While Glanton was ranked inside the IBF’s top 15 at 200lbs and would have therefore passed as a legitimate optional defence with the governing body’s blessing, the issue lay in the newly-erected Zuffa belt being on the line.“On March 19, 2026, the IBF Board of Directors met via teleconference to address the status of the IBF Cruiserweight title held by Jai Opetaia,” a statement from the IBF read.“At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board voted to vacate the title pursuant to Rule 5.H. The IBF Cruiserweight title is vacant.”The IBF initially approved Opetaia vs Glanton on March 5 on the promise that the Zuffa strap would be presented as nothing more than “a trophy or token of recognition.”However, the sanctioning was withdrawn on March 6 after the Zuffa belt was introduced as a “cruiserweight world title” at the pre-fight press conference.Opetaia got into the ring with Glanton two days later and was subsequently stripped under Rule 5.H., which allows the alphabet body to vacate titles when champions compete in contests that have not been formally approved.It marks the second time Opetaia has lost his IBF title after previously relinquishing the strap to compete in another unsanctioned contest against Ellis Zorro in 2023.Opetaia is now seeking legal action against the IBF.Riley will be in line for a shot at the vacant IBF title if he can beat Masternak on April 4Mark Robinson / MatchroomAn attorney representing Opetaia states that the IBF’s decision to withdraw sanctioning of the Glanton fight was a “product of coordinated, industry-wide collusion designed to punish him for working with Zuffa Boxing and to deter other athletes from doing the same.”Who will fight for the vacant IBF cruiserweight title?The IBF recently made Mateusz Masternak and Viddal Riley‘s European title fight, which is set to take place on the Deontay Wilder vs Derek Chisora undercard on April 4, an IBF eliminator bout.Whoever emerges from that contest is likely to be ordered to face No. 3-ranked Chris Billam-Smith for the now-vacant IBF title.Poland’s Masternak had been getting the better of Billam-Smith when they fought for the first time in December 2023 and was ahead on the scorecards.However, the rugged veteran retired on his stool at the end of round eight with a rib injury.A rematch between CBS and Masternak or an all-British showdown with Riley would both make for interesting fights. Boxing scheduleFor all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s boxing schedule.