Jai Opetaia vs David Benavidez is being talked about as a possible cruiserweight unification tittle fight after Benavidez’ beat Zurdo Ramirez.
Both are in solid form at the moment.
Benavidez however knocked out Gilberto Ramirez at the weekend on Cinco De Mayo in a huge victory.
Who is in the better form? Let’s take a look at the form book and the facts.
Jai Opetaia – Last 5 Fights
| Date | Opponent | Record Entering | Result | Method | Round, Time | Location | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 2026 | Brandon Glanton | 20–2–0 | Win | UD | 12 | Meta Apex, Enterprise, Nevada, U.S. | Retained The Ring cruiserweight; Won inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight |
| 6 Dec 2025 | Huseyin Cinkara | 22–0–0 | Win | KO | 8 (12), 0:36 | Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, Australia | Retained IBF, The Ring cruiserweight |
| 8 Jun 2025 | Claudio Squeo | 17–0–0 | Win | KO | 5 (12), 0:36 | Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, Australia | Retained IBF, The Ring cruiserweight |
| 8 Jan 2025 | David Nyika | 10–0–0 | Win | KO | 4 (12), 2:17 | Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, Australia | Retained IBF, The Ring cruiserweight |
| 12 Oct 2024 | Jack Massey | 22–2–0 | Win | TKO | 6 (12), 2:00 | Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Retained IBF, The Ring cruiserweight |
Form line: 5–0–0, 4 KOs, 1 decision. All wins were IBF + The Ring cruiserweight title defenses
David Benavidez – Last 5 Fights
| Date | Opponent | Record Entering | Result | Method | Round, Time | Location | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May 2026 | Gilberto Ramírez | 48–1–0 | Win | KO | 6 (12), 2:59 | T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBA (Super), WBO cruiserweight |
| 22 Nov 2025 | Anthony Yarde | 27–3–0 | Win | TKO | 7 (12), 1:59 | anb Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Retained WBA (Regular), WBC light heavyweight |
| 1 Feb 2025 | David Morrell | 12–1–0 | Win | UD | 12 | T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC interim light heavyweight; Won WBA (Regular) light heavyweight |
| 15 Jun 2024 | Oleksandr Gvozdyk | 21–2–0 | Win | UD | 12 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won vacant WBC interim light heavyweight |
| 25 Nov 2023 | Demetrius Andrade | 32–1–0 | Win | RTD | 6 (12), 3:00 | Michelob Ultra Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC interim super middleweight |
Form line: 5–0–0, 3 stoppages and 2 decisions. Moved from super middleweight — light heavyweight — cruiserweight in this span. Solid form.
Both are in a strong run at the moment but maybe the stumbling to making the fight now is networks.
It would need one to concede the rights to the other unless a joint promotion could be made between Amazon Prime Video (who shows Benavidez’ fights) and Paramount Plus (who shows Opetaia’s).
Benavidez is also interested in pursuing the Dmitry Bivol fight as well.
That is something to factor in also.
