If he could script his career steps ideally, David Benavidez would become the unified cruiserweight champion by defeating WBO/WBA champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez May 2, and then quickly return to light-heavyweight, where he reigns as WBC champion.
The problem is, injuries and layoffs have plagued the light-heavyweight division, where three-belt champion Dmitry Bivol returns to fight in a May 23 mandatory title defense and still aims to stage a trilogy bout versus former champion Artur Beterbiev.
So a scene that seems more timely and still fascinating is a victorious Benavidez, 31-0 (25 KOs), taking on another unification bout by meeting unbeaten Jai Opetaia of Australia later this year.
Asked about that notion Sunday night after defeating Brandon Glanton by unanimous decision to capture the first-ever Zuffa Boxing belt, The Ring light-heavyweight belt and perhaps defending his in-dispute IBF belt, Opetaia, 30-0, said he’d rather move next right to WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian.
Still, the powerful presence of Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh and his connections to Opetaia – by funding Zuffa Boxing – and Benavidez – by staging his most recent victory – make Benavidez-Opetaia a compelling looming clash.
Benavidez and his trainer-father, Jose Benavidez Snr, watched Opetaia’s bout against IBF No. 14-ranked contender Glanton and weren’t overly impressed.
“What I thought and what I saw is that Opetaia looked tired. He wasn’t as accurate as I thought he would be. He didn’t make any adjustments,” Benavidez Snr told BoxingScene Wednesday. “I saw a guy that did win all the rounds, but with a guy in front of him putting on the pressure … he could’ve stopped him in about six or seven rounds, but, in my opinion, it was a boring fight.”
And so, judging where the fighters are now, and if events lead them to each other by year’s end or early 2027, the elder Benavidez likes his two-division champion son’s chances.
“We want to fight the best … right now, I don’t think Opetaia has the experience yet,” Benavidez Snr said. “He’s fought a lot of fighters with no names and did what he was supposed to do against the, but when you put a veteran who knows how to survive in there with him, he couldn’t [stop him]. It tells me he’s not developing and not ready to fight the real champions.
“David will stop him, destroy him … look at what [Opetaia] has been through. He’s been hurt, broke his jaw, he gets hurt – that all stays with you for a little bit. And he’s still [at age 30] young in his career.”
Opetaia first has to work with Zuffa Boxing to resolve if he’ll remain IBF champion after the body failed to sanction his bout due to the involvement of the new Zuffa belt. The IBF released a statement Tuesday saying it’s reviewing the matter, after Zuffa Boxing head Dana White said a lawsuit is possible if the IBF strips Opetaia.
Benavidez fights for Premier Boxing Champions, and White has expressed reluctance for Zuffa fighters to engage in co-promotions.
“I don’t think our fight would happen within a year because of everything that’s happening [with the belt dispute, and Zuffa Boxing expressing disinterest in working with the sanctioning bodies],” Benavidez Snr said. “Dana White doesn’t want to do anything with anybody, so I see [an Opetaia] fight as being very difficult until they get what they want.”
Should Benavidez win the unified cruiserweight belt convincingly, however, why wouldn’t he look around and see if he can unify that division faster than at 175lbs?
“We’ll fight with whoever. We’re fighters. My job is to make David the most money I can make as a manager,” Benavidez Snr said. “I can see the possibility of us fighting anyone after [May 2].
“But, at this point, the only way I see capable of making this fight [with Opetaia] is Turki Alalshikh. I hope everybody starts getting along and starts working with each other, because, for now, why would we want to fight for a Zuffa belt that has no credibility, no history? Are people going to recognize you?
“When you fight for a belt that’s been recognized for many, many years, you start making millions.”
