Max Kellerman raised eyebrows during the post-fight broadcast when he suggested Jai Opetaia could already be considered “undisputed” despite the cruiserweight division still having multiple titleholders.
Following Opetaia’s victory over Brandon Glanton, the veteran analyst attempted to frame the moment as a defining one for the sport, even declaring during the broadcast, “Kids, you know when you hear people, in my generation, tell you about the good ol’ days? These are the good ol’ days.”
Kellerman also told Opetaia that “in the eyes of most boxing fans you’re undisputed,” despite the absence of the traditional four-belt collection. The suggestion immediately created an awkward contrast with Opetaia’s own comments.
The remarks drew criticism across social media, with many questioning the idea that Opetaia could already be considered “undisputed”.
Opetaia himself did not echo that sentiment. Instead, the newly crowned Zuffa cruiserweight champion reiterated that his goal remains the same one he has stated throughout his career — to collect the recognized world titles and become the undisputed champion of the division.
Redefining ‘Undisputed’
Opetaia has consistently stated that becoming undisputed is his ultimate aim. He even repeated that ambition on the day he signed with Zuffa Boxing, a moment that drew skepticism in some quarters, given the promotional shift.
As World Boxing News reported earlier, the IBF had already confirmed the title would be vacated if the bout proceeded without sanction.
Dana White later attempted to address those concerns by publicly stating that Zuffa would be willing to work with other promoters and sanctioning bodies in order to make major fights possible. However, the International Boxing Federation later clarified that Zuffa had never made contact to have the IBF title sanctioned for the bout with Brandon Glanton.
That detail meant Opetaia entered the fight with little realistic chance of keeping the belt he already held.
Once the contest proceeded without IBF sanction, Rule 5.H automatically vacated the title.
The sequence inevitably raised further questions about how the situation unfolded.
Opetaia arrived at the event with both a recognized world championship and The Ring cruiserweight title, credentials that helped position the new Zuffa belt as a world-level prize from the outset.
The IBF and Title Issue
When the night ended, the belt he lost was the IBF title tied to the established sanctioning structure. The one he walked away with was the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight championship — the outcome the promotion had set out to crown from the beginning.
The sanctioning issue had already raised questions about Opetaia’s path to undisputed status.
Whether that result was intentional or simply the way events developed remains open to interpretation. What is clear is that Opetaia left the arena without the belt he had hoped to unify, even as his stated ambition of becoming undisputed remains unchanged.
The contrast between the broadcast narrative and Opetaia’s own comments did not go unnoticed. Reaction across social media continued to question the attempt to frame the moment as an “undisputed” status while the traditional cruiserweight titles remain in circulation.
Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez currently holds the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles, while Noel Mikaelian holds the WBC championship, meaning the traditional belts required for undisputed status remain outside Opetaia’s control following the IBF decision.
For Opetaia, the message remained unchanged: the new Zuffa title may now be around his waist, but the belts he still wants are the ones needed to claim boxing’s traditional undisputed championship.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.
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