Australian boxing world champion Jai Opetaia faces being stripped of his IBF cruiserweight belt over his decision to take a $680,000 payday in Saudi Arabia.

Fox Sports boxing commentator Ben Damon and Code Sports reported Opetaia (23-0, 18 KOs) will land $US450,000 for taking part in a blockbuster card in the Middle East on December 23, facing England’s Ellis Zorro (17-0, 7 KOs).

The Aussie, who claimed the IBF title against Latvia’s Mairis Briedis on the Gold Coast last year despite a broken jaw, is scheduled to feature on the undercard with Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois also involved.

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But the IBF is demanding his next fight comes again against Briedis, in a mandatory title defence, because he would require another exemption having already fought Briton Jordan Thompson in October.

“We’ve made it clear to Jai’s team that he cannot fight Ellis Zorro for the title,” the IBF said through a spokesperson.

“We had already given Jai an exemption to fight Jordan Thompson in his last fight, so he can’t get another exemption to fight Zorro, who does not have a world ranking.

“In our rules, it can’t be done. He can’t have back-to-back exemptions.

“If we break the rules for Jai, it opens the floodgates for everyone else.

“The IBF have notified Jai’s team that he cannot fight Zorro — we’ve said his next fight has to be a mandatory against Briedis.

“If Jai Opetaia goes ahead and fights Zorro, he will be stripped of his IBF world title.”

The 28-year-old is one of Australia’s top pound-for-pound boxers alongside Tim Tszyu, Sam Goodman and Jason Moloney.

Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis told Code Sports Briedis was happy for the Aussie to face Zorro first and the IBF were the only ones demanding the pair square off next.

Speaking to Boxing Social, Eddie Hearn stated that Opetaia would vacate his IBF cruiserweight world title after the IBF rejected his voluntary defence against Ellis Zorro on December 23, a decision he called “really disappointing”.

“We’ve just got to have a little bit of common sense,” Hearn said.

“You’ve got the No. 1 in the division, who is going to vacate his belt. The belts are going to start not to matter.

“He’s got a two-fight deal in Saudi, and it’s life-changing money for him. So what are you going to do? Give it all up? Because of a silly decision by a committee?

“I think belts matter. To be a work champion holds value, no question. But you shouldn’t let it disrupt and distract your career.

“For Jai, those two fights could finally secure his future and his children’s future. You’re going to let a belt and a governing body and a committee stop you from doing that? We should all abide by rules, but if rules are inconsistent or unfair, you have to stand up against them?”

The Saudis reportedly have a three-fight deal worth over $2 million on the table for Opetaia.

“The IBF are brutal,” Aussie IBF bantamweight world champion Ebanie Bridges said in response to the story.