“The governing bodies don’t have any issues with doing world championship fights on Zuffa cards,” Hearn said to the Punch Podcast. “Basically, [Zuffa] said we’re not going to work with the governing bodies. We’re going to create our own organization, our own belt.”

The Irishman’s title win contrasted with Opetaia’s issues after joining the promotion. McKenna’s team complied with IBF requirements, securing official sanctioning without incident.

“You had a situation with Aaron McKenna where they followed the rules, IBF turned up, sanctioned the fight, no problem.”

Zuffa ultimately wants to build its own championship structure rather than work within boxing’s four-belt system, Hearn believes.

“The issue that Zuffa have got is Zuffa 100% want to get rid of the governing bodies, right? They want to do their own thing. But the problem they have is I think they underestimated the value of those belts to the fighter.”

Opetaia relinquished his IBF cruiserweight belt earlier in his career before winning it back and pursuing undisputed status.

“I think Jai was lied to really. I think that was the reality. And I know what the belts mean to Jai. He’s a legacy guy. He’s a boxing guy.”

Hearn claims the Australian cruiserweight signed under assurances that full unification would remain available.

“When he signed with Zuffa he was told, ‘Don’t worry, you’re going to be a champion, we’re going to unify, you’re going to be undisputed.’ But deep down I don’t think that’s their intention. It’s my opinion.”

That represents Hearn’s interpretation rather than Opetaia’s stated position. Zuffa has the financial resources to offer major purses and its own titles, but Hearn believes recognized world championships retain considerable value to fighters concerned with how their careers will be remembered.

McKenna securing an IBF belt under the Zuffa banner shows the two approaches can coexist. How long that continues may depend on Zuffa’s willingness to work with sanctioning bodies it ultimately intends to replace.