Benavidez vs Oleksandr Usyk OR Opetaia which is the fight fans want to see in boxing next? Let us take a look post Cinco De Mayo 2026.
David Benavidez brushed Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez aside easily by round six knockout.
Ramirez was very poor on the night however and maybe had the worst fight of his entire professional boxing career.
For an Usyk fight to happen Benavidez would have to go up to heavyweight of course. Let’s take a look at a few things.
- Fans pushing Opetaia: “Book him vs jai”.
- “NOW MAKE THE JAI OPETAIA vs DAVID BENAVIDEZ FIGHT” — said one fan.
- Opetaia is current cruiserweight champ — style matchup with Benavidez speed.
- Oleksandr Usyk is heavyweight, maybe too much for Usyk.
- Benavidez moved up 25 lbs to 200, Usyk fights at 220+.
- Bivol is Benavidez’s stated #1 target, not Usyk.
- Usyk busy with heavyweight unification; not mentioned in post-fight.
- Opetaia fight makes sense: both cruiserweights, fan demand.
- Benavidez said he’ll go back to 175, making Opetaia less likely short-term.
- Usyk would be “size mismatch” but huge money fight; Opetaia is “fight to be made”.
Usyk is fighting kickboxers and interested in fighting Germans that no one has heard of outside of hardcore boxing fans however.
So a Benavidez fight would be much better than that but we are not sure Benavidez will look to go to heavyweight.
Opetaia much more plausible.
Of course Canelo vs Benavidez is still something all boxing fans wish to see.
