Frank Warren, who leads the promotional charge of Saturday’s ‘Day of Reckoning’ card in Saudi Arabia, has slammed the IBF’s recent decision which forced cruiserweight Jai Opetaia to vacate his world title.
Opetaia is scheduled to face Warren’s fighter, unbeaten Ellis Zorro, as part of the big event.
The IBF had previously given Opetaia an exception to make a voluntary defense against Jordan Thompson back in September.
The sanctioning body refused to sanction Opetaia’s contest with Zorro – citing that he’s under a mandatory order to face Mairis Briedis.
Because the IBF was planning to strip Opetaia had he moved forward this weekend, it forced his hand to vacate the title on Monday.
Warren is stunned by the IBF’s position on the matter – especially since Briedis had no issue with Opetaia moving forward against Zorro, who is widely viewed as a massive underdog.
“It’s very short-sighted of the IBF if they go down this road,” Warren told BBC Sport.
“Everybody on board, including the number one [Briedis], were all happy for it to take place. But, you know what, the fight is going on. Everybody knows who [Opetaia] is, they know he’s considered to be the best at his weight out there so we’ll just get on with it and the fight will happen.
“It’s too big a fight not to happen and it’s too big an opportunity for the fighters not to fight. It [the IBF’s decision] is ridiculous really.”
Opetaia is set to receive a career-high payday – which he wasn’t about to give up for a rematch with Briedis.
“They’ve [IBF] really left me with no choice,” said Opetaia in an interview with Main Event TV. “This is a massive card that I can’t say no to, so they’ve stripped me. It is what it is.”