Jai Opetaia is set to lose his IBF cruiserweight title if he goes ahead with a fight against Brandon Glanton on Sunday.

Opetaia is scheduled to fight Glanton for the inaugural Zuffa Boxing World Cruiserweight title but the IBF said it has “withdrawn sanction of the optional defence” for its belt.

The IBF said that it had initially approved the bout as Opetaia’s team had told them the Zuffa Boxing fight in Las Vegas would not be a unification bout and that any belt awarded would be “characterised as a trophy or token of recognition”.

However, it added that following a news conference on Friday, it was “made it clear that the Zuffa World Cruiserweight title would still be contested” and, as the IBF does not recognise Zuffa Boxing, it was now an unsanctioned fight.

“For the purpose of unification of titles, the preeminent champions of the World Boxing Association (WBA), the World Boxing Council (WBC), and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) may be designated as ‘elite contenders’ and may be permitted to fight for the unified title,” said the IBF in a statement.

It added: “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contest is a fight which the IBF has not formally approved for sanction or where sanction has been formally withdrawn.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.”

Australian Opetaia, 30, also holds the Ring cruiserweight title.

We are well into NFL mock draft season, with the 2026 draft now under eight weeks away. It’s still fairly early, but it’s worth noting what the various media outlets think when it comes to Vikings mock drafts.

Mock drafts usually focus on the first round, but some go as far as the third round. When looking at the popular choices for the Vikings, I want to focus only on the 18th overall pick the Vikings own in the first round.

The Prospects Most Often Slotted to Minnesota at Pick No. 18

The Vikings’ choices at 18 have almost exclusively been on the offensive side of the ball. There have been a few exceptions: Oregon TE Kenyon Sidiq’s name popping up in early drafts, and Notre Dame RB Jeremiah Love, but he is almost a consensus top-10 pick at this point and out of the Vikings’ range.

For the most part, the analysts have looked to improve the Vikings’ secondary, though some have looked to strengthen up front with an interior defensive lineman. Their story is the same here at Vikings Territory, where a CB has been selected three times and a DT twice in our mock drafts to date.

Two names have been very popular to date, and they are Toledo S Emmanuel McNeill-Warren and Clemson CB Aveion Terrell. Around the 18th pick has the range for Terrell in mock drafts, and he was the early favourite for the latest first-round pick to land in Minnesota. Terrell to the Vikings has cooled off a bit in recent weeks, with many experts turning to safety as the Vikings’ route. McNeill-Warren has been a big favorite in recent mocks, with his draft stock rising, but there is a contender to take his place.

Dillon Thieneman’s draft stock is taking a huge boost from an impressive display at the combine. I suspect there will be a lot of sending him to Minnesota in mocks between now and the draft, as many see him as the perfect Harrison Smith replacement. Thienemen, McNeill-Warren, and Terrell are all for the bill of a Brian Flores-type player in the secondary, so it’s not a great surprise that these are the names mostly linked with the Vikings.

Another name that has cropped up a lot is Tennessee CB Jerod McCoy. A fully healthy McCoy is being selected right near the top of the draft, such is the ability he has shown. However, after missing the 2025 season due to a torn ACL, he didn’t perform on-field drills at the combine. The doubts over his health could lead him to slide to the Vikings at 18.

My Personal Favorite

While many are looking to the secondary, I am a big advocate of strengthening the trenches first. My personal favorite pick is Florida DT Caleb Banks, and he has shown up on a few mock drafts to date. He is another who had an impressive combine, helping boost his mock draft.

If there were doubts about Banks being a good value pick at 18, those were somewhat alleviated as he proved the foot injury that disrupted his 2025 season is behind him. Banks has the potential to be a game-wrecker for the Vikings on the interior, helping make all levels of the defense better.

The Other Names Being Sent to the Vikings

Some other names have popped up in mock drafts. Most notably, three cornerbacks, Colton Hood, Brandon Cisse, and Mansour Delane. All three have the potential to be a good fit in Minnesota, but most don’t see it happening at 18th overall. Delane is generally off the board well before 18, and that would be the expectation come draft day.

On the other hand, Hood and Cisse are generally looked at as late first and early second round options. Of course, there is always the potential for the Vikings to trade either up or down in the draft. After an impressive combine, Hood is another whose draft stock is on the rise and could come into play for the Vikings at 18.

Will it be one of these names for the Vikings at 18? There’s a good chance it will be, but the landscape of the Vikings’ roster will change as we head into the start of free agency, which can drastically alter perceived draft plans.

Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.

Most fans would say it’s the second most exciting time of the offseason — behind April’s draft — as free agency gets underway next week. The Minnesota Vikings won’t have much money to spend compared to the last two offseasons, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be silent. It’s time to get some predictions on record.

Our last pre-free-agency forecast touches quarterback, tight end, and bargain defensive help.

Minnesota is led by interim general manager Rob Brzezinski, who will hold the title indefinitely and perhaps permanently.

VikingsTerritory’s Main Predictions for the Roster Dominoes

Our final forecast for Vikings free agency.

1. T.J. Hockenson Will Take a Pay Cut

Fans have wondered about Hockenson’s fate beyond 2025 from the moment it became apparent that his receiving production dipped. The Vikings used him as a blocking tight end last season because the offensive line couldn’t stay healthy, and when he did command passing targets, well, J.J. McCarthy didn’t really target him.

Minnesota won’t release Hockenson, nor will it trade him. It will rip up his current deal altogether and give Hockenson a new contract, reflecting an honest-to-goodness paycut.

He’ll be back as the TE1 in 2026.

2. Asante Samuel Jr. Is the Main CB Addition

Adding Asante Samuel Jr. alongside Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers would give the Vikings the cornerback depth necessary to avoid feeling pressured to draft for the position this April.

Samuel Jr. almost signed with the Vikings last year, even meeting with the team before ultimately joining the Pittsburgh Steelers. While in Pittsburgh, he played under defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander, who recently replaced Daronte Jones in Minnesota.

This connection, combined with Mike Tomlin’s departure from Pittsburgh, could lead to Samuel Jr. signing a two-year deal with the Vikings for around $11 million.

Steelers-themed media seems to want Samuel Jr. back in 2026, a sign that he’s the real deal.

SteelersDepot‘s Matthew Marzi noted on Samuel Jr. this week, “On paper, it would sure be nice if it all worked out. If the Steelers pair Asante Samuel with Joey Porter, they could have a strong pair that can grow together. Samuel is still 26 years old even with five seasons under his belt, so he could easily have another half a decade in him.”

“He may not be the best cornerback to which they might have access this offseason, but factoring in price, is Asante Samuel the Steelers’ most ideal option at cornerback? He did play over 200 snaps for them last year, so it’s not like they didn’t get a look. Even with a new coaching staff, the tape is still the tape. And Mike Tomlin is a phone call away if they need a second opinion.”

3. Harrison Smith Returns for Year No. 15

Why hasn’t Smith filed the retirement papers? C.J. Ham already did it. So did Adam Thielen.

Probably knowing that an efficient quarterback is on the way — more on that momentarily — Smith will once again return to Minnesota. He has a hard time walking away when he knows he can produce at a commendable clip. The Vikings can still pursue a safety of the future — like Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman — but Smith will ride again. One last time, though we’ve written “one last time” every year since the start of 2023.

4. Kyler Murray, It is

Murray’s somewhat unexpected release has significantly altered the NFL quarterback landscape. Following Arizona’s decision to release him (shortly after the Cardinals ranked last in the NFLPA ownership survey), teams should flood his agent with interest.

The opportunity to acquire a quarterback of his caliber for a minimal investment is enticing; quarterbacks with Murray’s credentials — a No. 1 overall draft selection and career efficiency statistics surpassing those of Trevor Lawrence and Baker Mayfield — rarely become free agents.

Minnesota emerges as a logical destination. Murray’s childhood allegiance to the Vikings, coupled with the team’s favorable environment — Kevin O’Connell’s quarterback-friendly system, talented receiving corps, and competitive defense — suggests a potentially appealing one-year agreement.

Given Murray’s recent injury history, the Vikings would likely retain McCarthy as a backup. If successful, the pairing of Murray and Minnesota could prove formidable, particularly if O’Connell tailors the offense to capitalize on Murray’s mobility and improvisational skills.

Murray’s a Viking — and he could be the new QB1 for the next half-decade.

5. Vikings Sign 3-4 Affordable New Defenders

The Vikings can’t offer Jonathan Allen or Javon Hargrave-style contracts during this free-agency period, but they can scour the wire for bargains.

In addition to the Samuel Jr. prediction, Minnesota will sign a safety like Andre Cisco, a linebacker like Jerome Baker, and perhaps an EDGE defender like A.J. Epenesa (in the event a Jonathan Greenard trade comes to fruition).

The Vikings have only three off-ball linebackers under contract right now: Blake Cashman, Jacob Roberts (The Snake?), and Josh Ross. If they re-sign Wilson, they still need a couple more ILBs after releasing rookie Kobe King last year. Expect some movement at inside linebacker. The depth behind Cashman of only Roberts and Ross is downright comical.

Lille will host Lorient at the Decathlon Arena – Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Sunday in another round of the 2025-26 Ligue 1 campaign. The home side endured a challenging start to the year, although results over the past few weeks have been positive, and they will now hope their struggles are behind them.

After their trip to Serbia last week, which saw them overturn a first-leg deficit against Crvena Zvezda to book a spot in the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League, Lille returned to domestic action last weekend, going toe-to-toe with a relegation-threatened Nantes side. Les Dogues looked set to be held to a disappointing goalless draw before Nathan Ngoy netted a dramatic winner in stoppage time to secure a 1-0 victory.

Newly promoted Lorient, meanwhile, have wasted no time readjusting to life in the French top flight and now sit 15 points clear of the bottom three, with a top-half spot potentially awaiting them should they collect maximum points in Northern France this weekend.

A first-half brace from Ahmadou Bamba Dieng earned Lorient a point in their 2-2 draw with Auxerre last time out in Ligue 1. However, they endured a less positive cup outing days later, losing on penalties to OGC Nice to exit the Coupe de France in the quarterfinals.

Lille vs Lorient Head-to-Head and Key Numbers

• The two teams have met 40 times, with Lille winning half of those encounters and Lorient claiming 12 victories, while the remaining eight contests have ended in draws.
• Lille ran out 7-1 winners when the two teams met earlier in the season.
• Lille have lost just one home game to Lorient in the last 15 years.
• Lorient have scored 34 goals in Ligue 1 this season, the highest of any team in the bottom half of the table.

Lille vs Lorient Prediction

Les Dogues head into the weekend clash on a run of three straight wins after winning just one of their previous 10. They are comfortable favorites for this one and should receive an additional boost from their home advantage.

Les Merlus, meanwhile, have lost just one of their last 13 league matches and have every chance of securing a positive result this weekend. However, they have struggled for results on the road in Ligue 1 this season and could come unstuck here.

Prediction: Lille 1-0 Lorient

Lille vs Lorient Betting Tips

Tip 1 – Result: Lille to win

Tip 2 – Goals – Over/under 2.5 – Under 2.5 goals (Each of the hosts’ last eight matches have produced fewer than 2.5 goals)

Tip 3 – Both teams to score: No