David Benavidez Lays Out Hit List: Opetaia, Beterbiev, Usyk and Fury
David Benavidez wants two more cruiserweight fights before jumping to heavyweight for Usyk or Fury.
David Benavidez is thinking big. Very big.
Speaking on Inside Ring Show, the cruiserweight contender laid out a wish list that includes Jai Opetaia, Artur Beterbiev, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. He plans two more fights at 200 pounds before making the leap to heavyweight, starting with Opetaia.
"We got two great fights at cruiserweight before we get up there first," Benavidez said. He is targeting a Cinco de Mayo date for the Opetaia fight, but if the Australian ends up fighting Deontay Wilder instead, Benavidez has a backup plan. "If we can't get that fight for Cinco de Mayo with Jai Opetaia, then we'll do it with Usyk."
Beterbiev is also on the radar. According to Benavidez, the former undisputed light heavyweight champion has already made contact. "Beterbiev has definitely reached out to our team, and he's been actively trying to make that fight," he said, though the weight class and timing remain unresolved.
At heavyweight, Benavidez is willing to face both Usyk and Fury. "If we can get a fight in with Usyk and Tyson Fury, then that's something I'm willing to do," he said.
Naming opponents is the easy part. Fighting them is something else entirely. But if Benavidez follows through on even half this list, the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions are about to get a lot more interesting.
The ambition here is real, and I respect it. Benavidez has the size, the power and the engine to cause problems for anyone from 200 to 225 pounds. But let's pump the brakes a little. Opetaia is a legitimate puzzle at cruiserweight. Southpaw, slick combinations, real championship experience. That is not a tune-up.
The Beterbiev angle is fascinating. A former undisputed champ reaching out to Benavidez tells you everything about where the money and the attention are right now. If Beterbiev drops to cruiserweight for that fight, it could be one of the best matchups of 2027.
As for jumping to heavyweight for Usyk or Fury, I love the confidence, but there is a difference between willingness and readiness. Usyk's footwork and timing would test Benavidez in ways nobody at 200 pounds can. Still, the fact that he is putting these names out there publicly tells me he is serious about building a legacy, not just collecting belts.
