Chris Billam-Smith Stops Rozicki In Cruiserweight Brawl

The latest installment of the Zuffa Boxing series saw the new promotion leave the confines of the Meta Apex, a venue that the promotion under the TKO Group banner has established as its home base, and staged its first international event at the Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth, England where former WBO World Cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith squared off against top Cruiserweight contender Ryan Rozicki in an encounter that was highly anticipated due to both fighters having fan-friendly styles. Although there are times where for whatever reason, what appears to be an intriguing battle on paper does not materialize once two fighters enter the ring to do battle, this was not one of them. 

In this case, you had two fighters who not only had demonstrated a willingness to get in and mix it up with their previous opposition, but they showed no reluctance to engage with each other, despite being well aware of the other's reputation as having punching power and being more than willing to trade punch for punch. Often, regardless of where a fight occurs in terms of division, those are the best types of fights one can observe. This was one that would not disappoint.

There was no feeling out process here in this fight as both Billam-Smith and Rozicki established what can only be described as a high or suffocating pace where neither fighter had much room to breathe as the action was fought in close seemingly from the opening seconds of the bout. It was a pace that seemed largely initiated by Rozicki, but it was one where he appeared overly aggressive as he was warned for headbutting Billam-Smith in the opening round, something that would lead to a point deduction in round two when Rozicki was admonished for headbutting for a second time, and was cut over the left eye from punches thrown by Billam-Smith in response to such aggression in the first round. 

Whether the instances of Rozicki headbutting were a case of intentional illegal tactics or merely a fighter in the midst of his aggression, allowing that aggression to take over where he has a mental lapse, is a subject to debate at a later time, but the pace he largely initiated made it clear early that this was a fight that was not likely to go the distance. To borrow a quote from the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard who uttered “There's Been No Boxing At All, Just Fighting Here,” as he served in the capacity of an expert commentator for the now defunct HBO Sports during a delayed broadcast of the legendary World Middleweight championship fight between the late great champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns in April 1985, such a quote could easily be used to describe this battle though obviously not as a direct comparison.

Just as the pace began to slow ever slightly in round three, as Rozicki continued to plot forward, Billam-Smith landed a perfectly timed straight right hand that frankly, would have ended the night for most fighters, that landed flush on the jaw of Rozicki. Somehow, miraculously, Rozicki was able to stay on his feet, albeit legitimately staggered, and kept coming forward. 

As fatigue naturally began to show itself and the pace even by the slightest of margins slowed, the fight continued to be fought largely on the inside, and the two fighters continued to exchange heavy shots in close range. Rozicki’s granite chin would once again be on display in round six as Billam-Smith unleashed a brutal barrage of hooks to the head with both hands that landed flush, yet somehow to the astonishment of this observer, Rozicki managed to stay on his feet. The grueling battle between two warriors continued into the seventh round and Billam-Smith capped off what proved to be the climatic final blows, a combination of hooks to the head in the final seconds of the round. It was at the conclusion of round seven that Rozicki’s corner made the decision to stop the fight bringing an end to what will likely be a Fight of the Year candidate when 2026 has concluded.

In terms of what comes next, we are in an interesting time in the sport where Zuffa as a promotion appears intent on naming their own world  championships under a proposed Unified Boxing Organization format, which would in theory bring the model of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) to the sport of Boxing. It remains unclear as to whether the promotion will also do business under Boxing’s existing structure, meaning with independent sanctioning organizations. With regard to the Cruiserweight division, the recent bout between Jai Opetaia, the IBF World Cruiserweight champion and top contender Brandon Glanton, originally thought to be for the IBF world championship, was changed in the prelude to that fight as the IBF stripped Opetaia, who also holds recognition as World Cruiserweight champion recognized by Ring Magazine due to their claim that they were not contacted by Zuffa and thus refused to sanction the fight for its version of the World Cruiserweight championship. As most know, Opetaia defeated Glanton via twelve round unanimous decision for the newly created Zuffa Boxing World Cruiserweight championship.

What makes this noteworthy is both Billam-Smith and Opetaia are now competing under the Zuffa Boxing banner and it would appear that the plan from a Zuffa perspective would be to match Opetaia and Billam-Smith against each other in a theoretically more streamlined way as compared to the conventional structure of professional Boxing in what would obviously be used to point out the benefit of the proposed Unified Boxing Organization format.

While it remains to be seen if such a format as well as proposed changes to existing legislation under the Muhammad Ali Act ultimately proves to be beneficial for the sport long-term. If fights like this, however, are put together more quickly while public interest is high, regardless of the broader implications for the sport long-term, it should be viewed as a positive. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Inoue And Benavidez Make Statements On Cinco De Mayo Weekend

Cinco De Mayo weekend 2026 was highlighted by two significant fights in Boxing's Jr. Featherweight and Cruiserweight divisions. While longtime readers likely saw the preview penned by this observer regarding the Cruiserweight bout that took place on May 2nd in Las Vegas, NV, which will conclude this column, the first bout that occurred on May 2nd was regarded as an event that most would call a “Super Fight” and likely one of, if not the most significant fight to take place in Japanese Boxing history. 

Yours truly is referring to the highly anticipated encounter between undefeated stars of the sport Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani, which took place before 55,000 spectators in Japan’s Tokyo Dome. Nakatani, the unbeaten former unified World Bantamweight world champion competing for only the second time in the 122lb. Jr. Featherweight division, facing a man in Naoya Inoue that has two undisputed world championships in two different divisions on his resume with his Undisputed World Jr. Featherweight championship on the line. Nayoa Inoue has proven to be what I have often called a generational talent, much in the same way as Terence Crawford and others throughout the history of the sport that defined their respective eras. In Inoue’s case, he has been defined not only for his ability to often score devastating knockouts that fit his “Monster” moniker, but doing so through multiple divisions ranging from the 108lb. Light Flyweight division to his current weight class the 122lb. Jr. Featherweight division, winning world titles in every division he has competed in.

While Inoue has continued his dominance, there have been occasions where he has appeared vulnerable  and most thought that within the weight classes of Bantamweight and Jr. Featherweight, there was one fighter who posed a legitimate threat to him at this stage of his career in Nakatani, who has similar punching power and a former unified World Bantamweight champion in his own right. Despite the ingredients of a likely shootout between two devastating punchers, what we saw was a surprisingly tactical battle rooted largely in the fact that both fighters had respect for each other and what the other could do. This resulted in an extremely tight, tactical fight where both fighters had moments of success in many of the same rounds. 

When fights are fought in such a way, it can be challenging to determine which fighter gets an edge due to both the pace of the combat and there being nuances therein where an argument can be made either way. At the halfway point of the scheduled world championship bout, I felt the fight was even. It would be over the second half of the contest that the two fighters would begin to open up more offensively and it was Inoue who was more active, the effective aggressor throughout much of that half of the fight, and that is what ultimately led him to retaining his undisputed crown via twelve round unanimous decision. 

Although Naoya Inoue remains at the top of the Jr. Featherweight division, the question remains as to whether or not he has reached his ceiling in terms of how far he can go up the weight scale. With his Hall of Fame resume more than secured anything in the 126lb. Featherweight division should be viewed as icing on the cake at this point in his career. There will come a time, however, as most lower weight fighters eventually discover, where moving up in weight will eventually take a toll on his ability to compete effectively where the risk will be greater than the reward in terms of his legacy.

Another fighter who seems to be chasing a legacy in terms of a defining fight that will allow him to cement his Hall of Fame credentials is David Benavidez, a fighter also known as “The Monster.” While sharing a moniker with Nayoa Inoue is purely coincidental, the similarity between the two has been their ability to often dominate their competition. As Inoue has thus far continued to move through weight classes in search of more accolades, so too has Benavidez, but the latter of the two, a world champion in both the 168lb. Super-Middleweight and 175lb. Light-Heavyweight divisions, has done so without getting a marquee fight that most would consider legacy-defining.

As that search for such an opponent has continued, Benavidez set his sights on the 190lb.-200lb. Cruiserweight division. A division usually void of such marquee bouts, but one that usually serves as the precursor for most fighters before testing the waters of the Heavyweight division. May 2nd closed out with Benavidez challenging unified WBO/WBA world champion Gilberto Ramirez at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. While his Cruiserweight debut carried with it the obvious questions of whether he would have the same type of punching power and hand speed at the higher weight, in addition to whether he would find a test in the form of Ramirez, who himself was a two-division world champion, this fight would be another performance for Benavidez that would show why he has carved out a reputation as an avoided fighter within the sport by fighters considered stars.

From the opening bell, Benavidez simply bided his time and it became clear very early that when he let his hand speed be on display, the champion Ramirez had no answers to combat it. As the difference between the two in terms of hand speed became more clear and the champion began to show signs of breaking down as Benavidez gradually administered a terrible beating on the highly regarded Ramirez, the performance would be highlighted by two knockdowns in round four and round six with the latter being the result of what proved to be a fight ended accumulation of punishment as Benavidez scored a sixth round knockout to cement his arrival in the Cruiserweight division as its new unified world champion.

There simply not much one can say to describe Benavidez’ performance in this fight other than to call it the latest in a line of devastating performances against another highly regarded world champion that simply had no way to combat the skillset Benavidez has. In terms of what's next, an encounter with undefeated former two-time IBF Cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia, current holder of the recently introduced Zuffa Boxing World Cruiserweight championship, would seem to be the most logical choice. It is a choice, however, that may prove to be difficult due to Zuffa Boxing appearing intent on not participating in the established model of the sport of Boxing in doing business with existing sanctioning organizations, choosing instead to create their own champions and rankings as well as being front and center in trying to sphere head proposed reforms to the Muhammad Ali Act. 

A challenge will be for the promotion, which falls under the TKO Group banner, to show it can put the interest of the sport takes priority over any promotional-based goals the promotion might have. Co-existence with Boxing’s existing sanctioning organizations and outside promoters are bridges that will have to be crossed to make fights of significant interest happen as well as bring recognition to their own in house world championships, particularly with regard to public opinion much in the same way as established sanctioning organizations all had to do throughout various points in the history of Boxing. A potential fight between Benavidez the new unified world champion and Zuffa Boxing’s first recognized world championship Opetaia, who is also recognized by Ring Magazine as World Cruiserweight champion would appear to be the first test for Zuffa Boxing to show it has the best interest of the sport at heart. It is the most logical fight to make in the Cruiserweight division. Why wait to make it happen?

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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Opetaia-Glanton Thoughts

The fight between Jai Opetaia and Brandon Glanton on March 8th at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, NV was one that could be described as one of the hottest rising stars in the sport going against a top contender, who may eventually also be considered among the best in Boxing, that shined a light on the often lightly regarded and consistently lacking name recognition, Cruiserweight division. A synopsis that frankly did not need controversy.

For the unbeaten Opetaia, however, the fight would have such a shadow of controversy as the fighter, recognized by both the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and Ring Magazine as World Cruiserweight champion, would see the IBF withhold sanctioning of the bout two days before it took place due to what it felt was a lack of respect by the promoter Zuffa Boxing, who is attempting to establish it's own world championships for fights held under its banner in an attempt to establish Unified Boxing Organizations (UBO’s). A format that seems to mirror that of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) that has in itself created controversy for its proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. While the broader subject is one that requires its own column, and perhaps a series of columns to go over everything that it entails, what it meant for this fight was that only the vacant Zuffa World Cruiserweight championship along with Opetaia’s recognition from Ring Magazine would be on the line and the IBF would strip the champion of its world championship for competing in an unsanctioned contest.

The ugliness of the politics that be in the sport of Boxing aside, what would take place in the ring was a superb performance by a potentially great fighter. From the opening bell, Opetaia used his footwork and angles to consistently beat Glanton to the punch. Glanton, who applied constant pressure on Opetaia from the outset was unable to successfully cut the ring off and minimize Opetaia’s movement for a sustained period of time as the fighter known for his ability to score devastating knockouts, put round after round in the bank by frequently landing left hands from the southpaw stance and mixing in combinations. 

Although some would say that the only thing missing from Opetaia’s performance in this fight was a knockout, the ability to show there is more to his skillset than just punching power, being made to use his movement more than had been the case previously in his career, and dominate a determined opponent, who never took a backwards step was impressive in winning a wide and convincing twelve round unanimous decision victory and becoming the first world champion under the Zuffa Boxing banner. Despite the controversy regarding the IBF prior to the bout, Opetaia celebrated his victory with his IBF belt prominently displayed.

While one would think there will be much more to come in terms of established sanctioning organizations and Zuffa Boxing that might see the battleground go from the Boxing ring to the courtroom, one can only hope that Zuffa’s goal is not ultimately to phase out the existing standards in which Boxing has been governed for decades and all of the above will realize there are more benefits to collaboration than being enemies. If everyone involved does indeed have the same goal, to help elevate and grow the sport.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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BREAKING: IBF Withdraws Sanctioning of Opetaia-Glanton, Fight To Be For Vacsnt Zuffa Boxing World Cruiserweight Championship Only

In a developing story, on Friday evening, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) has withdrawn its sanctioning of Sunday’s Cruiserweight championship bout between its champion Jai Opetaia and Brandon Glanton. The decision comes following Zuffa Boxing’s, who will be promoting the bout, refusal to acknowledge independent sanctioning organizations or outside promoters, choosing instead to have their own championships and rankings in house. 

While the latter represents a subject that will have ramifications and possible litigation between the promoter and independent sanctioning organizations as well as outside promoters, the IBF’s decision, in essence strips the undefeated Opetaia of the IBF World Cruiserweight championship regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s contest. The bout, however, will go forward as scheduled with the vacant Zuffa Boxing World Cruiserweight title on the line. The bout, which will headline Zuffa Boxing 04 can be seen here in the United States on digital subscription general entertainment network beginning at 5:30PM ET/2:30PM PT. (*North American Times Only. Card and Start Times Subject to Change.*)  We will keep readers updated on developments as they become available. 

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Opetaia-Glanton Preview

On Sunday, March 8th, the newest promotional player in the sport of Boxing, Zuffa Boxing will showcase its fourth Boxing card at the MetaPlex in Las Vegas, NV. While this observer has quietly observed the previous three Zuffa events this column will not focus on the promotion itself, nor will it delve too deeply into its spearheading legislation that some will argue could lead to radical change in the sport of Boxing both for good and bad, but what Zuffa 4 will produce is the first world championship bout promoted under the Zuffa banner as in the main event undefeated IBF World Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia will defend his title against current IBF number fifteen rated Cruiserweight contender Brandon Glanton in a scheduled twelve round bout that can be seen in the United States on digital subscription general entertainment network Paramount+. 

This fight obviously will mark the first bout for the champion under the Zuffa banner, but most knowledgeable Boxing fans are likely aware that Jai Opetaia has quickly evolved into one of the sport’s hottest rising stars and through his aggressive style as a “Knockout Artist,” who has developed a reputation for scoring devastating knockouts, has been able to shine a light squarely on the often scarce Cruiserweight division that has consistently lacked both long-term name recognition value as well as marquee match ups that generate the type of attention that is often afforded to other divisions throughout the sport when top fighters in a division face each other, most notably the Heavyweight division. Much like virtually every notable Cruiserweight before him, Opetaia appears destined at some point to set his sights on the Heavyweight division both for bigger paydays and more mainstream recognition.

In twenty-nine professional bouts, Opetaia has scored twenty-three knockouts registering a near 80% career knockout percentage. Perhaps the most scary among those knockouts came in his last title defense last December when he scored a brutal eighth round knockout of previously undefeated Huseyin Cinkara in his native Australia. A knockout that left Cinkara hospitalized for several days with a brain bleed and a fractured vertebrae. While obviously no one wants to see any fighter sustain serious injuries, the knockout served as another example not only of what Opetaia is capable of, but the type of power he has in either hand. The type of punching power that is just as dangerous and capable of ending a fight at any moment as it progresses as it is early in a bout.

On this occasion, Opetaia will step in the ring with veteran contender Brandon Glanton. While Glanton will come into this fight rated fifteenth by the IBF and is likely viewed as a significant underdog, he does have a respectable record of 21-3, with 18 Knockouts and has a career knockout percentage of over 85% coming into what will be his first world championship opportunity. Glanton is a boxer/puncher that in addition to slowing an ability to score knockouts in his own right, has also never been stopped in his career and has shown the ability to go deep into fights as well. 

What this fight will come down to in my eyes will all center on whether Glanton will be able to deal with and have an answer for the non-stop pressure and power of the champion. The thing that we have not really seen to this point is how Jai Opetaia will respond to a significant test. Brandon Glanton does have a well-rounded skillset and it will be interesting to see if he will be the opponent that can provide such a test.

In addition to the IBF world championship in the Cruiserweight division as well as recognition by Ring Magazine as its champion, this bout represents the first Zuffa Boxing world championship bout. Not simply the first world title bout promoted by Zuffa, but a world title bout in which the promotion which is part of TKO group which includes both the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and WWE under its corporate umbrella, will recognize its own champion complete with world championship belt as the promotion is attempting to establish a different format in the sport known as Unified Boxing Organizations (UBO’s) which in essence mirrors the format of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) where championships and rankings vary by specific promotion rather than rankings and championships being overseen by an independent sanctioning body. While the jury is out on whether this approach will be successful, beneficial for fighters, and likely requires a separate column in of itself due to the broader spectrum regarding proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali act, what I will say for now is even though the model of which the sport of MMA is not without its flaws and has thousands of promotions worldwide each with their own world championships per promotion, this should be viewed as an attempt to establish a different type of sanctioning organization albeit under a different format than the standard of traditional professional Boxing, but one that has been used with regard to Bareknuckle bouts that also have a promotional based championship format. Whether it will be successful on the traditional side of professional Boxing remains to be seen.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Zuffa Boxing 04: Opetaia vs. Glanton takes place on Sunday, March 8th at the Metaplex in Las Vegas, NV. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen in the United States on digital subscription entertainment streaming network Paramount+ beginning at 5:30PM ET/2:30PM PT. (*Card and Start Times Subject To Change*) Check your local listings internationally.

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Opetaia Brutally KO's Nyika In 4 To Retain IBF World Cruiserweight Championship

Undefeated IBF World Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia scored a brutal fourth round knockout of previously undefeated IBF number ten rated Cruiserweight contender David Nyika on Wednesday night at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Queensland, Australia. Opetaia, who has quickly established himself as a “Knockout Artist" faced what should be considered a stern test in the form of a determined David Nyika, who showed no hesitation in being willing to engage with the champion.

What resulted was a give and take, toe to toe battle through most of the fight. When one fighter would land solidly with their punches, the other would respond almost immediately with punches of their own. Frankly, through much of the flight, there was not much to separate the two fighters. This began to change ever so slightly in round three when Opetaia began to vary his attack to the body and head of the challenger.

It would be in round four where the champion would find his opening. Opetaia started to slightly get some separation between himself and Nyika, was able to land a short left uppercut that popped the challenger’s head back and moments later in an exchange of punches in close range, Opetaia dropped Nyika hard to the canvas with another short uppercut to the head. Nyika, who entered the fight unbeaten in ten professional fights, showed his mettle by getting up from the knockdown on very unsteady legs. Opetaia, however, knew his opponent was in trouble and pressed forward looking for the finish. The champion would land a brutal follow-up barrage of punches to the head of Nyika sending him down hard a second time and appearing to knock him out cold as the fight was immediately stopped without a count. Official time of the stoppage was 2:17 of round four. Jai Opetaia advances to 27-0, with 21 Knockouts. David Nyila falls to 10-1, with 9 Knockouts.

The first world championship bout in the sport of Boxing in 2025 proved to be short, explosive, and devastating in how it ended. Jai Opetaia, who became a world champion in winning the IBF Cruiserweight world championship in July 2022 frankly has all the tools that one looks for in a rising star. Explosive power in either hand that can end a fight at any time, and a willingness to mix it up with his opponents. Such traits often mean that the fighter will draw significant attention whenever they compete because Boxing fans tend to favor action. Something that in his twenty-seven professional fights Opetaia has demonstrated in spades.

While there is a possibility that Opetaia might seek to unify the Cruiserweight division, something that only Evander Holyfield and Oleksandr Usyk have done in becoming the only fighters to fully unify the division before setting their sights on the Heavyweight division in two Hall of Fame careers, the issue for the Cruiserweight division, also known as the Jr. Heavyweight division in years gone by, is it has never been a career destination for most fighters.

In that it has never enjoyed the type of marquee value that is enjoyed by other divisions both below it and in the Heavyweight division. As such, it has been viewed by many as, for lack of a better term, “Stepping Stone" for fighters deemed too big for the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division, to test the waters against bigger opposition before embarking on competing as a Heavyweight. Therefore, the Cruiserweights are often deemed as a bridge for fighters moving up to Heavyweight or for fighters who have had trouble competing effectively as a Heavyweight, but who cannot get down in weight to the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division. A perception that was only increased by the fact that for many years, Evander Holyfield was viewed as the only marquee fighter to come out of the Cruiserweight division, even though his stay in it was a relatively short four year period from 1984-1988 where he became a world champion, went on to become undisputed champion, then went on to Heavyweight. Although there have been many great former Cruiserweights that have tried their luck as Heavyweights, not many were viewed as marquee stars and the fact is in addition to Holyfield and Usyk, only one other former Cruiserweight world champion, David Haye, went on to win a portion of the World Heavyweight championship.

Now, the division is faced with what could be the same scenario. A fighter who has the makings of a potential superstar, much like Holyfield, Haye, and Usyk that could elevate the Cruiserweight division by staying in it and potentially trying to become an undisputed world champion of it, but who also clearly has the potential of a future World Heavyweight champion as well. Promoters, managers, and yes, even fighters can boast about how they see the Cruiserweight division as a commodity, but with limited marquee value in the division, despite being populated by several world-class and talented fighters, a move to Heavyweight for most is seen as almost inevitable. For now, Jai Opetaia is firmly established as the top Cruiserweight in the world even without the status as an undisputed world champion. One should ask, however, if he will turn his attention to the Heavyweight division before the end of 2025. In this observer’s view, unless he has a path to become undisputed champion that is both straightforward and lucrative, the discussion of Opitaia as a potential future World Heavyweight champion as he enters the field of contenders should commence. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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