Jai Opetaia Allowed By The IBF To Defend Against Jack Massey

IBF & Ring Magazine cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia (25-0, 19 KOs) does not have to worry about being stripped of a title when he faces Jack Massey (22-2, 12 KOs) on October 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The IBF has granted Opetaia permission to face Massey instead of a mandatory challenger deemed by the IBF which would likely be the #1 ranked Huseyin Cinkara (22-0, 18 KOs). Although the exception was granted, the IBF still requires that the title be defended NLT 90 days after the October 12 fight. Here is the statement released by the IBF.

“On September 17, 2024, the IBF received a request for an exception from Michael Francis on behalf of IBF Cruiserweight Champion Jai Opetaia to be allowed to face the #11 ranked Cruiserweight Jack Massey on October 12, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The IBF Board of Directors met to discuss this matter pursuant to IBF Rule 11. E. A majority of the directors determined that the request should be granted with the following conditions: 

1. The Jai Opetaia vs. Jack Massey bout must take place no later than October 12, 2024.
2. The full executed contracts for this bout must be received by the IBF in fifteen days or no later than or by Thursday October 10, 2024.
3. The winner of the Jai Opetaia vs. Jack Massey bout must defend the IBF Cruiserweight title within ninety days of October 10, 2024, or no later than Friday, January 20, 2025. 
4. The IBF will not entertain any additional exception requests to further delay the Cruiserweight mandatory.”

With the press conference for the fight occurring earlier today, this statement validates that the IBF title will be around Opetaia’s waist and defended against Massey, with the winner fighting NLT 90 days after October 12.

Abraham Gonzalez

Abraham Gonzalez is the founder of FightsATW. His journalistic work has been published and used across several platforms to include online, network TV and promotional companies. He is an American Public University alumnus and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). Abraham was the Managing Editor for NYFights, Big Fight Weekend, contributed to FanSidedMMA and ProBoxTV.

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