David Benavidez Avoided Opetaia Before Mikaelian Stepped Up

“I would think if you’re David Benavidez, you’re supposed to carry yourself as the A-side. You think you’re the man. You’ve already headlined in Vegas, and that’s going to be your next date,” Mora told DAZN Boxing. “I’m thinking I’m the man, and then I get pushed aside by a Noel Mikaelian? Really? That’s what I would be upset at if I was David Benavidez. And then Jai Opetaia is the fight that we all want to see. Instead, you’re going to be hopefully turning to a Cieslak, a Polish fighter I’ve never heard of or seen fight before?”

That narrative makes it sound as though Mikaelian took an Opetaia fight Benavidez wanted. There has been little indication Benavidez was seriously pursuing it.

Opetaia has publicly called out Benavidez, accusing him this week of avoiding the matchup. When his fight with Mikaelian was announced, the Australian specifically singled out Benavidez.

“Credit to Noel for stepping up to the plate while others, yes, David Benavidez, I’m talking about you, continue to run and hide,” Opetaia said.

Benavidez had the opportunity to target Opetaia after moving to cruiserweight but chose to pursue other options. If he faces Cieslak next, Mikaelian cannot be blamed for pushing him out of an Opetaia fight he had not been pursuing.

Mora may be unaware of that history or simply chose not to mention it. Either way, his criticism misses the larger issue. Benavidez did not need Mikaelian to move aside. He could have pursued Opetaia himself.