Dana White has landed his first marquee signing for his new boxing promotion just days before the inaugural event.
Zuffa Boxing has already faced plenty of criticism, with fans and media picking apart everything from the lacklustre venue choice at the Apex to the quiet build-up around Callum Walsh’s clash with Carlos Ocampo.
But they’ve made a statement by signing IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. The Australian is widely respected as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters and is expected to eventually make an impact at heavyweight after unifying his current division.
Jai Opetaia signs with Zuffa boxing ahead of debut
With a week to go before its launch on Paramount+, Zuffa Boxing has announced the signing of IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. The deal, described as a partnership between Australian outfit Tasman Fighters and TKO, also includes the involvement of boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh.
In a short video posted to X, Opetaia shared his excitement about the move: “Hey what’s up everyone, it’s Jai Opetaia. I’ve signed with Zuffa Boxing now,” he said. “I’m pumped for the future, exciting times, man. Let’s get these big fights over the line, unification and undisputed too, let’s go.”
Tasman Fighters CEO Michael Francis added: “This is an incredibly exciting partnership for everyone involved. Jai Opetaia is already a world champion, but we firmly believe he is going to establish himself as a major name in the United States and beyond.”
“This partnership puts him exactly where he belongs – on the biggest platforms against the biggest opponents,” Francis continued. “Jai is leading the way for Australian boxing right now.”
“He’s shown what’s possible with hard work, discipline and belief, and this is only the beginning,” Francis said. “There are more developments ahead, and we’re extremely confident about what the future holds.”
Main card lineup announced for Zuffa Boxing debut
With just seven days to go until fight night, Zuffa Boxing has unveiled the full lineup for their first event in Las Vegas. The main card will feature three fights, headlined by Walsh vs Ocampo, and will be broadcast live on Paramount+, with additional prelims expected.
The co-main event features Misael Rodriguez taking on Austin Deanda, while Julian Rodriguez faces Cain Sandoval in the opening bout. Coverage begins at 9pm Eastern, 6pm Pacific, exclusively on Paramount+.
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