Jai Opetaia Says Zuffa Deal Won’t Block David Benavidez Fight

The cruiserweight champion says his move to Zuffa Boxing will not prevent a future fight with David Benavidez if the belts align

Jai Opetaia says his deal with Zuffa Boxing would not prevent a future fight with David Benavidez. The cruiserweight champion believes a unification bout would make sense if both fighters hold titles.

The suggestion that the promotional move could block a meeting with Benavidez has circulated in boxing circles recently. The champion rejected that idea and said any promoter should welcome a fight that could bring multiple belts together.

“Why wouldn’t they?” Opetaia said to Ring Champs about his interest in fighting Benavidez. “That would be so silly not to. If he wins this fight and we have a unification fight, why would anyone not have that on?”

Benavidez has recently moved up to cruiserweight after building his reputation at 168 pounds and later competing at light heavyweight. His arrival has already prompted discussion about how he could match up with the division’s current champions. Benavidez has built a reputation as a high-volume pressure fighter who has steadily moved through opponents while campaigning for bigger fights across multiple divisions.

The champion made clear that his objective remains the same regardless of promotional affiliations. His focus stays on collecting every belt available in the division before considering any future move up in weight.

“We’re here to fight the best,” Opetaia said. “We’re here to get undisputed. I’ve made that clear to everyone. Being undisputed in your own weight class is the goal.”

That ambition naturally places the division’s belt holders in the same lane if negotiations ever line up. A meeting between the two fighters would carry additional interest because of their different backgrounds and fighting styles, which fans have already begun debating as Benavidez settles into the weight class.

Benavidez’s size has drawn attention since his move to cruiserweight. The champion said those physical comparisons are less important than the actual fight once the bell rings.

“Just put us in the ring and see who’s better,” Jai said. “Styles are styles. You’ve got to have ammunition to fight everyone.”

For now, his focus stays on collecting titles at cruiserweight before thinking about heavier divisions later in his career. The long-term ambition, he explained, extends beyond the current weight class but only after the cruiserweight goals are finished.

“I want to be undisputed,” he said. “Until that’s done, I’m not satisfied,” said Opetaia.