Following his dominant victory over Gilberto Ramirez on May 2, 2026, where he secured WBA Super and WBO cruiserweight titles, David Benavidez acknowledged Jai Opetaia as a formidable opponent and the biggest fight available in the division. However, Benavidez has explicitly stated he will not engage in a fight under the Zuffa Boxing banner due to what he describes as excessive “politics.”
Zuffa Boxing Contract Creates Obstacle for Benavidez-Opetaia Showdown
Jai Opetaia, who joined Zuffa Boxing, headed by UFC’s Dana White, in February 2026, has been actively pursuing unification bouts. He became the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight champion by defeating Brandon Glanton in March 2026. This move led to him being stripped of his IBF title by the sanctioning body.
Benavidez expressed his desire for the matchup while highlighting the contractual complexities:
“That’s the biggest fight in the world. Opetaia is a beast, a hell of a fighter. I just don’t know why he went to Zuffa. I’m not going over there to fight for a Zuffa title. Too much politics. But it’s the best fight in the world, so let’s make it happen.”
Both undefeated fighters possess impressive records and knockout percentages. Opetaia, a 6’3″ southpaw with a 76-inch reach, holds The Ring cruiserweight title. Benavidez, a 6’1″ orthodox fighter with the same reach, has expressed his intention to unify titles.
Opetaia, determined to unify all the belts, stated:
“Undisputed. Don’t take your mind off undisputed. We’re chasing unification fights. If we don’t get one by the end of the year, I’ll be very f***ing disappointed. Undisputed. When you think of me, you think, ‘Bro, he wants to be undisputed.’ That’s it. I’m not worried about anyone else. I don’t chase names. I don’t even care if it was Zurdo or if it was Benavidez or if it was back when it was Billam-Smith. I actually respect these dudes. I think they’re great fighters. I think they’re great world champions.”
Prior to these contractual barriers, calls for a fight between Benavidez and Opetaia were mutual. Benavidez initially suggested Opetaia needed more experience at cruiserweight before their potential clash. Opetaia, after the Benavidez-Ramirez bout, actively pushed for unification talks. However, Benavidez, who remains with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), noted that Zuffa’s reluctance to cross-promote with PBC and DAZN makes the fight difficult to arrange.
Benavidez reiterated his position post-fight, emphasizing his unwillingness to compete for a Zuffa title. While acknowledging that an agreement could potentially be reached, he pointed to Dana White’s typical avoidance of cross-promotional events. Some fans have criticized this stance, drawing parallels to Benavidez’s past discussions regarding Canelo Alvarez’s reasons for not fighting him.
Opetaia had previously dismissed concerns about his Zuffa deal hindering unification, expressing confidence that promoters would facilitate such matchups. Reports had surfaced about a potential 12-round fight at 200 pounds in the U.S. over the summer of 2026, which would pit Opetaia’s Ring belt against Benavidez’s WBA Super title, though this remains unconfirmed.
Following Opetaia’s loss of the IBF title, discussions have reportedly cooled. Benavidez has indicated interest in moving to light heavyweight to face opponents like Dmitry Bivol. The growing divide between Zuffa titles and traditional championship belts is creating further fragmentation within the cruiserweight division. While fighters express mutual respect and a desire for these major encounters, platform restrictions and promotional stances from figures like Dana White present significant challenges.
