David Benavidez drew a clear line after his win over Gilberto Ramirez, saying a fight with Jai Opetaia won’t happen on Zuffa’s terms.
“I don’t know why he went to Zuffa,” Benavidez said after his win over Ramirez. “I’m not going out there and fighting for a Zuffa title. Dana White hasn’t shown he wants to do fights with PBC or DAZN. If we can come to an agreement and make a big fight, let’s do it.”
The timing of Opetaia’s move to Zuffa Boxing is incredibly convenient for Benavidez. By signing with Dana White, Opetaia lost his IBF title. Benavidez is now using the lack of hardware as a reason to ignore the fight, viewing it as a step back as he wants legacy and unified titles.
Claiming that he won’t fight on Zuffa terms gives him a business-like edge. It sounds more professional than saying he doesn’t want to get in the ring with a southpaw who has the speed and power of Opetaia, but fans aren’t buying it, especially since they were linked for a fight long before the Zuffa deal.
Calling out Dmitry Bivol now is a safe bet because that fight is essentially impossible to make in the short term. Bivol is busy with Michael Eifert on May 30 and is likely tied up in a massive trilogy with Artur Beterbiev later this year.
By targeting Bivol, Benavidez books himself a busy schedule that doesn’t involve a fight until 2027. This allows him to remain in the conversation as an elite pound-for-pound contender without actually having to challenge the cruiserweight gold standard in Opetaia.
Opetaia responded on social media shortly after: “Enjoy your victory champ…See you soon!!!”
The sentiment on social media has changed. For a long time, Benavidez was the boogeyman who eluded everyone, especially Canelo Alvarez.
Now the roles have reversed at 200 pounds. Fan sentiment today on X is that Benavidez is running to 175 to find a guy with a full dance card just so he doesn’t have to deal with Jai.
If Benavidez really wanted to prove that he is the king of the cruiserweights, the Opetaia fight is the only one that really settles the debate, belts or no belts. Choosing a path that leads to a two-year wait for Bivol instead of a cross-promotional blockbuster with Opetaia makes the fear narrative hard to ignore.
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Last updated on 2026/05/03 at 09:25
