“Hey, you talk about fighting the best, this and that. Don’t talk about it. I’m right here. The winner out of Zurdo vs. Benavidez, let’s go,” said Jai Opetaia to The Ring.
Opetaia’s comments arrive just days before Benavidez challenges Ramirez for the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on May 2. The fight gives Benavidez a chance to secure his first belts at 200 pounds after moving up from light heavyweight.
The Australian has been positioning himself for a unification opportunity and used the moment to press his case, calling out both fighters rather than focusing on a single opponent.
The IBF’s decision to strip Opetaia following his move to Zuffa Boxing has already affected how the fight is being viewed. Jose Benavidez Sr. has pointed to the lack of a title and limited profile as reasons the matchup does not currently make sense.
Opetaia previously held the IBF cruiserweight title and remains one of the division’s most avoided fighters, with several proposed fights failing to materialize over the past year.
His latest statement adds immediate pressure to the outcome of Saturday’s fight, with a clear next step already being pushed publicly.
A matchup between Opetaia and the Ramirez-Benavidez winner would move the division closer to a full unification, depending on how the remaining titles are handled.
For now, the focus remains on Saturday’s fight, but Opetaia has made his position clear — he expects to be next.
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