David Benavidez has emerged as one of the most dominant forces in the sport, claiming titles at 168 pounds before moving up to light-heavyweight and cruiserweight.
Still undefeated, the 29-year-old’s aggressive style, size and high-volume output have led to growing talk of an eventual run at heavyweight.
A match-up with former undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has been frequently discussed as a long-term target. Usyk, who cleaned out the cruiserweight division before conquering heavyweight, represents the ultimate test of skill and footwork not only in the top weight-class, but the sport entire.
However, boxing legend Roy Jones Jr believes Benavidez faces a tougher stylistic challenge without even leaving the cruiserweight division.
Jones – who famously moved up from middleweight to win a heavyweight world title – believes Jai Opetaia is actually the harder fight for ‘El Monstro’.
Speaking on the match-up via Parimatch, Jones said:
“Usyk was an easier fight for him [Benavidez] than Opetaia is. Opetaia is younger, stronger. Opetaia is, to me, much more dangerous for David Benavidez than Usyk is. I thought all along he should’ve taken Usyk over Opetaia.
“Jai Opetaia showed a lot of good things over the weekend. He’s big, but Benavidez is too. He does have punching power. He has shock on his punches, and those are the things that make a difference in the fight sometimes.
“I would like to see how Benavidez takes his punch. If Benavidez takes his punch, then he’s gonna be in trouble, because Benavidez has a work rate out of this world. But we gotta see – can Benavidez take his punch first?”
A showdown between Benavidez and Opetaia is already being actively explored. The Australian southpaw has established himself as the top 200lbs fighter in the world, despite being stripped of his IBF title.
The two faced off in the ring following Opetaia’s latest title defence, publicly agreeing to a fight. Reports suggest organisers are looking at dates in 2027, with Las Vegas viewed as the preferred venue.
Benavidez’s team has made it clear that while heavyweight ambitions remain on the table, winning the WBC in December before facing Opetaia is the immediate priority.
