“The sport of alternation and putting your mouth in it is making money instead of your skills,” Opetaia told Boxing King Media.
The comment drew a strong response as Opetaia became one of the clearest examples of boxing’s high-risk, low-reward problem.
Although he was stripped of the IBF cruiserweight title outside the ring, many fans still consider Opetaia to be the division’s true leader because he still holds the Ring Cruiserweight Championship and has never been beaten professionally. Yet big names rarely mention him.
This has become increasingly noticeable after David Benavidez moved up to cruiserweight and defeated Gilberto Ramirez for titles earlier this month. Despite the win, Benavidez quickly shifted attention back to a possible future fight with Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight instead of booking Opetaia.
The timing was notable because Bivol may not realistically be available until 2027, depending on how his mandatory obligations develop after Saturday’s defense against Michael Eifert and a likely mandatory involving Callum Smith.
This potentially leaves Benavidez plenty of time for another big fight before Bivol becomes available. Yet Opetaia’s name hardly comes up in discussions.
The bout is considered by many to be stylistically dangerous for Benavidez due to the way both fighters operate offensively. Benavidez typically positions himself directly in front of opponents while throwing sustained combinations and applying pressure. Few fighters approach Opetaia like that because of his punching power, physical strength and willingness to trade at close range.
Opetaia himself praised Benavidez during the interview, saying the appeal of the fight will come from the skill level involved rather than manufactured animosity.
“I actually really respect Benavidez and the way he carries himself,” Opetaia said.
“People want to see our skills.
“That’s what we leave it to. We leave the talking to the ring.”
The lack of serious public interest in the fight only reinforced Opetaia’s broader point that boxing often rewards positioning and promotion as much as proving who the best fighter actually is.
