Jai Opetaia maps out path to Benavidez showdown: ‘I’d definitely like to get a fight in’
The cruiserweight division is bubbling with great potential fights on the horizon. What’s next for David Benavidez is a question many fans are asking, while Jai Opetaia continues to be one of the most talked-about fighters in the division. The two have been rumoured to be facing each other for some time, and following Opetaia’s recent win over Noel Mikaelian, he and Benavidez faced off in the ring, with both sounding positive about making the fight.
The Australian has now appeared on the Mr Verzace Podcast, making it clear he intends to stay active, and not just wait around for a Benavidez bout.
Jai Opetaia and David Benavidez face off after September 12 win
The WBC announced on September 14 that they were stripping Mikaelian of the title after he decided to face Opetaia (31-0, 24 KOs) rather than his mandatory challenger, Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs).
Opetaia ultimately bossed the fight against Mikaelian, stopping him in the ninth-round. He controlled the distance well during the bout and showed his finishing prowess. In the same ruling announcing they were stripping Mikaelian (28-4, 12 KOs), the WBC announced Michał Cieslak (28-2, 22 KOs) as its new champion. It was also confirmed that the winner of Opetaia-Mikaelian would be the winner of Benavidez-Cieslak.
After his victory on September 12, Opetaia invited Benavidez into the ring, where both showed plenty of respect and agreed to face each other at the T-Mobile Arena next May. For this potential cruiserweight superfight, Benavidez needs to beat Cieslak, with Opetaia not content to sit around and wait.
Jai Opetaia reveals future plans
Jai Opetaia vs David Benavidez is without a doubt one of the best fights you can make in boxing, and speaking to The Ring, the Australian discussed facing off with Benavidez on September 12:
“They told me he was in the crowd, so I tried to find him and call him in,” Opetaia said. “I wanted him to say that. I just want to concrete the fight. It was good to have him in there [and] good to hear his words. I’m just hoping we get that fight over the line.”
Making it clear he doesn’t want to wait until May for his next fight: “I don’t want to wait until May for my next fight,” Opetaia said on the Mr Verzace Podcast. “That’s ages away. I’d love to get one more fight in this year, and then one more early next year, and then we can fight in May. I’d definitely like to get a fight in. I’m not going to wait until May sitting around. It doesn’t make sense to me,” added the Australian.
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Ricky Carroll
Freelance Writer and Digital Marketer, spending most of his time waiting for Andy Cruz to win a world title. Also watches YouTube videos of Lennox Lewis fights on a daily basis.