Jay Obitaya’s IBF cruiserweight title is in doubt after winning the Zuffa boxing belt

Jay Obitaya could be stripped of his IBF cruiserweight belt after defeating Brandon Glanton to win Zuffa’s inaugural cruiserweight title.

The Australian won via unanimous decision at Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Sunday, with all three judges scoring the fight 119-106.

However, the bout was not approved by the International Boxing Federation and Obitaya may now lose the title.

The IBF had initially approved the fight after Obitaya’s team told them it would not be a unification bout and that any belt awarded “would serve as a trophy or token of appreciation.”

But after a press conference on Friday, the AIBA said it had been “clarified that Zova’s cruiserweight world title will remain in dispute” and the AIBA, which does not recognize Zova’s boxing, withdrew his punishment.

The International Boxing Federation added: “If the champion participates in an unauthorized contest within the weight limit set for him, the title will be declared vacant whether the champion wins or loses the bout.”

Obitaya, who signed with Zova Boxing last January with the goal of becoming undisputed at cruiserweight, won every round in his first bout in the United States.

“I know there’s been a lot of white noise, a lot of stuff on social media, but I’m just hoping it gets resolved and we can still pursue that goal,” Obitaya told ESPN.

“I didn’t lose track, I never did. I was stripped once before. I’m going to get the belt back, and I’m going to be undisputed.”

Zuffa Boxing is backed by UFC President Dana White. She held her first event in January and vowed to transform professional boxing.

White’s ultimate goal is to marginalize the four traditional sanctioning bodies – the WBO, WBC, IBF and WBA – and make Zuffa’s belt the premier world title alongside the Ring Magazine title, an organization owned by Saudi boxing broker Turki Al-Sheikh.

Zuffa Boxing also recently acquired British boxer Conor Penn, who left Matchroom Boxing to join them.