Top trainer Robert Garcia has predicted a potential clash between David Benavidez and Jai Opetaia, believing that one man is “unbeatable”.
The two cruiserweights have verbally agreed to lock horns next year, with Las Vegas representing a likely destination for their Cinco de Mayo weekend showdown.
Before that, though, Benavidez is expected to face WBC world champion Michal Cieslak in December, as per the final fight on his existing deal with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions.
Should he emerge victorious, then the 29-year-old will hold three of the four major cruiserweight titles, having already dethroned Gilberto Ramirez for the WBO and WBA belts.
He did so with a vicious sixth-round finish in May, becoming a three-division world champion in his first outing at 200lbs.
Most would argue that Opetaia represents his most dangerous challenge, however, as the 31-year-old is a natural cruiserweight and has remained unbeaten in 31 fights.
Even in his outing last month, when many felt he underperformed, the Australian scored a ninth-round stoppage over former world champion Noel Mikaelian.
Yet while it was an impressive finish, coach Garcia has told ProBox TV that, against Benavidez, Opetaia would not be afforded the opportunity to get his man out of there.
“I do pick Benavidez. That’s why he’s called ‘The Monster’. He’s unbeatable. I see him going to heavyweight and actually doing good there.
“I think Opetaia took some hard punches [against Mikaelian]; he got stunned a little bit. If that’s Benavidez, he doesn’t let him go. Benavidez is always in great shape, ready to go all twelve rounds into a war. It’s a different man right there.”
Not only is Benavidez one of the sport’s flagship fighters from an ability perspective but, commercially, the Mexican-American is also becoming a mainstream attraction.
