LAS VEGAS – The IBF may have taken away Jai Opetaia’s cruiserweight title since he’s joined the new Zuffa Boxing promotion, but his zero remains intact.

The unbeaten Australian lost his sanctioning body belt when he stepped into the ring Sunday night at the Apex versus Brandon Glanton. Opetaia, however, retained all the skill that carried him to the strap, and his victory only enhanced the notion that he’s the world’s best 200lbs fighter.

Symbolizing that was Opetaia receiving the Zuffa Boxing championship belt, which was given for the first time in the fledgling promotion’s fourth card. He also got The Ring cruiserweight strap for being the lineal titlist.

Judges scored the bout 119-106 three times for Opetaia, 30-0, after Opetaia punctuated the outcome with several power scoring blows to Glanton’s head in the 12th round.

“We’re starting a new chapter as Zuffa champion – let’s go,” Opetaia said.

The southpaw Opetaia found Glanton with rapid lefts to open the bout, smoothly flowing along the ring to establish effective angles, including an uppercut to the body.

Glanton found himself in the enviable position of being too slow-handed to diminish his defense by throwing punches, as Opetaia landed even with both of Glanton’s hands up in a protective mode in the second.

An uppercut and jab landed, and a creative combination closed the round.

A right uppercut and straight left peppered Glanton, 21-4, in the third, and those punches were only increasing in volume and effectiveness as Glanton, 34, covered up.

Glanton was rocked in the fourth and fifth and opted to boldly try a toe-to-toe effort that only generated groans from the crowd witnessing his punishment.

In the sixth, the desperate and pained Glanton suffered a one-point deduction for holding. Opetaia followed with busy combinations.

Three wicked lefts greeted Glanton in the seventh, and Opetaia devoted the final minute of the frame with body punches.

“He’s a tough kid,” Opetaia said.

Glanton lost another point in the eighth for a second low blow.

That created a desperate Glanton, who charged and landed some inside blows while again absorbing Opetaia offerings.

By the ninth, Glanton was taking on punching-bag duty, staying close to the champion to help mute the impact of the blows.

Opetaia hammered Glanton by the ropes in the 10th, nearing a defining punch that Glanton again delayed.

In the 11th, Opetaia suffered a one-point deduction for holding as the pair engaged up close.

Opetaia said he’s interested in “chasing belts. I’ll get the belt back and become undisputed,” adding he’d like to fight the winner of the May 2 Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez-David Benavidez WBA/WBO cruiserweight titles fight.

The bout culminated a dramatic series of events leading up to the fight, including the IBF’s decision to leave Las Vegas after objecting to the fact Opetaia was fighting for the newly unveiled Zuffa cruiserweight belt.

By stepping into the ring Sunday, Opetaia put himself at risk of losing the title – a formality expected to be finalized by the IBF this week.

IBF Rule 5.H states, “An Unsanctioned Contest is a fight which the IBF has not formally approved for sanction or where sanction has been formally withdrawn. If a Champion participates in an unsanctioned contest within his prescribed weight limit, the title will be declared vacant whether the Champion wins or loses the bout.”

Earlier Sunday, other outlets claimed IBF president Daryl Peoples said the presentation of its belt during Friday’s final pre-fight press conference was “an embarrassment.” 

BoxingScene’s Jake Donovan reported earlier Sunday that Zuffa Boxing was aware of all the fees attached to the main event. 

A total of $75,300 in sanctioning fees was applied to the main event:

– $45,000, to reflect three percent of Opetaia’s reported $1,500,000 fight purse
– $6,000, to reflect three percent of Glanton’s reported $200,000 fight purse
– $22,000 assigned as a promoter fight sanction
– $2,300 assigned to Levi Martinez, the IBF-appointed supervisor, who was later informed to abandon the event, after being flown in first-class and provided a hotel suite, per IBF rules covering travel and lodging arrangements.