Boxer Jai Opetaia has initiated legal proceedings in the United States aimed at compelling the IBF to restore his cruiserweight world title.

The Australian maintains that the sanctioning body acted improperly by removing his belt after his initial bout under the Zuffa Boxing promotional banner.

Opetaia submitted a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Nevada requesting reinstatement of his title, compensation for damages along with legal fees, and an order blocking the IBF from appointing a new cruiserweight champion during the ongoing case.

The IBF offered no immediate response, though a representative informed BBC Sport that a statement would follow at the suitable time.

The 19-page filing, secured by BBC Sport, asserts that competing organizations have discouraged titleholders from meeting him, referencing David Benavidez declining a bout after the stripping and claims that the WBC warned Noel Mikaelian against facing the Australian or risk losing his own belt.

"The parties involved and, most recently, the WBC have moved to sideline Jai from upcoming opportunities," the lawsuit states.

The complaint additionally identifies officials from the WBC, WBA and WBO, with BBC Sport reaching out to those bodies for their input.

The dispute stems from 31-year-old Opetaia's choice to align with Zuffa Boxing, the fresh outfit started by UFC head Dana White along with Saudi-backed Sela and US firm TKO.

Opetaia's debut under this banner occurred versus Brandon Glanton in Las Vegas during March. His IBF crown was set for defense on the evening Zuffa Boxing unveiled its own cruiserweight title belt.

Per the complaint, the IBF first cleared the plans, collected a $73,000 sanctioning payment and named a supervisor for the event, only to withdraw approval less than 48 hours prior to the contest.

The suit contends the IBF later viewed the match as a title unification due to the Zuffa belt also being at stake.

Opetaia rejects this view, noting the body had already treated the Zuffa belt as simply a trophy rather than a rival organization's championship. He argues no valid reason existed for the IBF to change course.

The document claims Opetaia faced an untenable choice from the delayed ruling, compelling him to either pull out of a fight prepared over months and forfeit substantial pay or proceed and risk losing his title.

Opetaia opted to compete, beating Glanton via unanimous decision, after which the IBF vacated his belt.

The filing further alleges the IBF's conduct resulted from widespread collusion intended to punish Jai for joining Zuffa Boxing and discourage others from following suit.

Legal precedent exists for a fighter regaining world champion status through court action.

In 2004, the WBC entered liquidation following defeat in a substantial lawsuit brought by former titleholder Graciano Rocchigiani.

Rocchigiani captured the WBC vacant light-heavyweight crown in March 1998 after Roy Jones Jr. relinquished it.

Yet Jones sought to retain the belt, prompting the WBC to restore him as champion in June 1998.

Besides financial redress, the WBC had to acknowledge Rocchigiani as champion for the 1998-2000 period.

Zuffa Boxing debuted in June 2025 with goals of competing against established promoters and sanctioning entities in the sport.

The outfit currently oversees eight weight classes, crowning one Zuffa champion per division.

White has indicated that Zuffa Boxing will not depend on conventional world titles from the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF.

White has voiced interest in amending the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, the 2000 US statute designed to safeguard boxers and curb conflicts of interest plus monopolistic behaviors in the industry.

Alterations to the law might enable recognition of a Zuffa belt as a valid world title, lessening reliance on current sanctioning groups.

Zuffa Boxing made an early impact in February by signing welterweight contender Conor Benn in a notable shift from Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing.

Earlier this month, multi-division champion Shakur Stevenson joined Zuffa Boxing as the latest prominent addition.

Stevenson holds the WBO lightweight title, though it is uncertain if he will lose it after the move.

Benn is set to face Ryan Garcia for the WBC welterweight crown on 12 September.

US light-welterweight Richardson Hitchins gave up his IBF title upon signing with Zuffa, while top pound-for-pound fighter Oleksandr Usyk recently surrendered his WBA (Super), IBF and WBC belts and has been connected to a possible shift to the promotion.