David Benavidez referred to as Jai Opetaia a beast after beating Gilberto Ramirez for cruiserweight titles on Might 2, 2026, in Las Vegas. He stated the matchup tops the division however drew a line at Opetaia’s Zuffa Boxing deal. Benavidez holds the WBA Tremendous and WBO cruiserweight belts from that sixth-round knockout of Ramirez at T-Cell Area.
Zuffa Boxing Contract Blocks Benavidez-Opetaia Conflict Regardless of Mutual Callouts
Opetaia signed with Zuffa Boxing in February 2026, led by UFC’s Dana White. The Australian southpaw received the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight title in opposition to Brandon Glanton by unanimous choice in March 2026 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. That transfer price him the IBF belt, which the sanctioning physique stripped after he joined the brand new promoter.
The fighters sit at 30-0 and 32-0, with Opetaia at 77% knockout charge from 23 stoppages and Benavidez at 81% from 26. Opetaia fights southpaw at 6’3″ with 76-inch attain; Benavidez stands orthodox at 6’1″ with the identical attain. Opetaia debuted in 2015 and holds The Ring cruiserweight title since stopping Mairis Briedis in 2022. Jai desires nothing however unification matches for extra titles, he said:
“Undisputed. Don’t take your thoughts off undisputed. We’re chasing unification fights. If we don’t get one by the top of the yr, I’ll be very f***ing dissatisfied. Undisputed. While you consider me, you assume, ‘Bro, he desires to be undisputed.’ That’s it. I’m not fearful about anybody else. I don’t chase names. I don’t even care if it was Zurdo or if it was Benavidez or if it was again when it was Billam-Smith. I really respect these dudes. I believe they’re nice fighters. I believe they’re nice world champions.”
Callouts flew each methods earlier than boundaries appeared. Benavidez praised Opetaia early in 2026 however stated he wanted cruiserweight expertise first. Opetaia focused the Ramirez-Benavidez winner in April 2026 and pushed for unification talks. Promoters clashed: Zuffa avoids PBC and DAZN fights, per Benavidez, who stays with Premier Boxing Champions.
Benavidez repeated his stance post-Ramirez: “I don’t know why he went to Zuffa. I’m not gonna go over there and battle for a Zuffa title.” He added that Dana White skips cross-promotion, however an settlement might work. Followers name it a dodge, given Benavidez’s previous gripes about Canelo Alvarez utilizing comparable excuses.
Opetaia dismissed blocks from his deal in March 2026, saying promoters would push unification. Some sources listing a possible summer season 2026 conflict within the U.S. over 12 rounds at 200 kilos, pitting Opetaia’s Ring belt in opposition to Benavidez’s WBA Tremendous however isn’t confirmed.
Talks cooled after Opetaia’s IBF loss, with Benavidez eyeing mild heavyweight subsequent like Dmitry Bivol. Cruiserweight splits deepen between Zuffa titles and conventional belts. Fighters agree on the draw however platforms and Dana White stands agency.
