Jai Opetaia calls for winner of Zurdo vs Benavidez ahead of the big 2026 Cinco De Mayo 2026 boxing weekend.
They fight for a cruiserweight title where Opetaia is also a champion at up at cruiserweight.
The fight for him against the winner makes sense and is a good one but we are not sure if it will happen.
If Benavidez wins he will possibly go to light-heavyweight to prove himself at 175 pounds and take on the champion there Dmitry Bivol.
Here’s how a winner of Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez and David ‘The Mexican’ Monster matches up with Jai Opetaia stats wise:
David Benavidez vs Jai Opetaia – Tale of the Tape (Cruiserweight)
| Category | David Benavidez | Jai Opetaia |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 31-0, 25 KOs | 30-0, 23 KOs |
| Age | 29, born Dec 17, 1996 | 30, born 1995 |
| Height | 6’2″ / 188 cm | 6’4″ / 193 cm |
| Reach | 74.5″ / 189 cm | 74.5″ / 189 cm |
| Stance | Orthodox | Southpaw |
| Nickname | El Bandera Roja, The Mexican Monster | The Real Deal |
| Titles | WBC Light Heavyweight, WBA Light Heavyweight Regular | The Ring + Zuffa Cruiserweight, former IBF champ |
| KO % | 81% | 79% |
| Total Rounds | 167 pro rounds | 129 pro rounds |
Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez vs Jai Opetaia – Tale of the Tape (Cruiserweight)
| Category | Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez | Jai Opetaia |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 48-1, 30 KOs | 30-0, 23 KOs |
| Age | 34 | 30 |
| Height | 6’3″ / 191 cm | 6’4″ / 193 cm |
| Reach | 75″ / 191 cm | 74.5″ / 189 cm |
| Stance | Southpaw | Southpaw |
| Titles | WBA + WBO Cruiserweight | The Ring + Zuffa Cruiserweight, former IBF |
| KO % | 63% | 79% |
| Last Fight | UD win vs Yuniel Dorticos June 28, 2025 | UD win vs Brandon Glanton March 8, 2025 |
| Career Note | Only loss to Dmitry Bivol at 175 lbs | Undefeated, beat Briedis twice |
Context:
- Benavidez moving up to cruiserweight May 2, 2026 to fight Ramirez for WBA/WBO belts this weekend — first thing first.
- Opetaia stripped of IBF belt but holds Ring/Zuffa titles. Benavidez says Opetaia fight “ship has kinda sailed” without IBF belt — let’s see.
- Opetaia wants unification with winner of Ramirez vs Benavidez but the winner may opt to do something else — again — let’s see.
Don’t forget the big Inoue vs Nakatani fight is also this weekend over in Japan.
