David Benavidez has put himself forward for a potential showdown with one of boxing’s most destructive active world champions.
‘The Mexican Monster’ has established himself as one of the most exciting fighters on the planet over the last 18 months as he continues to climb up the pound-for-pound rankings.
Benavidez, who currently holds the WBC light-heavyweight title, made his return to action back in November when he stopped Britain’s Anthony Yarde in the seventh round of their clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The 29-year-old is expected to make the move up to cruiserweight ahead of his next ring appearance, with multiple reports suggesting that he is set to challenge unified WBA and WBO world champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez next.
Should a showdown with Ramirez fail to come to fruition, Benavidez appears to be open to a potential match up with reigning IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, who is widely considered to be boxing’s most feared world champion.
Speaking on the Last Stand Podcast recently, ‘The Mexican Monster’ admitted that he would be open to facing Opetaia in the future, but claims that his focus is currently on a bout against ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
“Yeah, Jai Opetaia’s a good fighter. He’s really strong, has a lot of power. I just think in my opinion, what makes more sense to me from a businessman standpoint, ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez right now, that’s why I called that fight because there’s more sauce behind this fight.
“Jai Opetaia’s a great fighter, a strong fighter, probably one of the strongest fighters at cruiserweight in my humble opinion but he’s not really known that much, you know what I mean?
“Even in Australia, he don’t even sell out in Australia, and I think from what I’ve shown from what I do, you know I fill the seats in with people, and every time it’s two Mexicans going up that’s already going to sell out.
“So we’re moving little by little, step by step. But like I said, if it doesn’t happen now it’ll happen later. I’m not ducking nobody.”
Opetaia extended his unbeaten record to 29-0 in December when he stopped Huseyin Cinkara in the eighth round of their clash at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre to make the fourth successful defence of his IBF world cruiserweight strap.
