David Benavidez Offered Another Title Shot

WBC light-heavyweight champion David Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) could be fighting for another world title if he defeats Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (48-1-30 KOs) for his WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on May 2, as IBF cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia has his sights set on facing the winner of the unification fight.

Opetaia is currently preparing to headline Zuffa Boxing 04 on March 8. The undefeated southpaw will face Brandon Glanton at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, with the winner being crowned Zuffa Boxing’s Cruiserweight Champion. Opetaia, who holds a perfect 29-0 record with 23 knockouts, views this inaugural Zuffa title as a step toward unifying the entire 200-pound division, explicitly targeting fellow champions like Ramirez and Benavidez. Opetaia has publicly welcomed a unification bout as early as the summer.

“Definitely, that [winner of Ramirez-Benavidez] is the main fight that I am chasing. I want the winner out of Zurdo and Benavidez. I want that winner, that is my goal right now. Until I win that WBO and that WBA, WBC, as well, that is my goal. Anyone that says anything else is lying. I want to become undisputed in the cruiserweight division,” Opetaia said