- Aussie will take on undefeated Brit Ellis Zorro on December 23
- IBF has warned they will take away his belt if he fights
- The body instead wants a rematch against Latvian Mairis Briedis
Australian world boxing champion Jai Opetaia is on the verge of losing his IBF cruiserweight title following his decision to compete in a lucrative event in Saudi Arabia.
Opetaia, who has an impressive record of 23-0 with 18 KOs, has opted for a $680,000 payday.
The Australian boxer will step into the ring on December 23 against undefeated England's Ellis Zorro (17-0, 7 KOs) as part of a star-studded card featuring Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois.
The Australian boxer, who won the IBF title on the Gold Coast last year against Latvia's Mairis Briedis despite struggling with a broken jaw, is now facing criticism from the IBF.
The federation insists that Opetaia's next fight should be another mandatory title defense against Briedis. This is because Opetaia would still need an exemption after recently battling Britain's Jordan Thompson in October.
Australian boxing world champion Jai Opetaia could be stripped of his world title
The IBF has said Opetaia's next fight should be a mandatory title defense against Briedis
“We have made it clear to Jai's team that he cannot fight Ellis Zorro for the title,” the IBF said through a spokesperson.
“We had already given Jai an exemption to fight Jordan Thompson in his last fight, so he cannot get another exemption to fight Zorro, who is not world ranked.
'According to our rules, that's not possible. He can't get back-to-back waivers.
“If we break the rules for Jai, it will open the floodgates for everyone else.
'The IBF has informed Jai's team that he cannot fight Zorro – we have said his next fight must be against Briedis.
“If Jai Opetaia goes ahead and fights Zorro, he will be stripped of his IBF world title.”
The Australian fighter is one of the country's top pound for pound boxers and has signed a lucrative deal to fight in Saudi Arabia
Opetaia will currently face undefeated British Ellis Zorro (17-0, 7 KOs)
Opetaia's manager Mick Francis told News Corp that Briedis had no objection to Opetaia facing English boxer Ellis Zorro first.
However, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) is pushing for a rematch between Opetaia and Briedis as the Aussie's next fight.
The controversy comes amid reports of a lucrative three-fight deal the Saudis offered to Opetaia that is reportedly worth more than $2 million.
“The IBF is cruel,” Australian IBF bantamweight world champion Ebanie Bridges said in response.
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