Eddie Hearn Doesn't Believe David Benavidez Beats Jai Opetaia, Unsure On Zurdo

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Dec 15, 2025

Link copied!

Dec 15, 2025

Hans Themistode

Dec 15, 2025

1 min read

WBC light heavyweight beltholder David Benavidez is readying himself for another weight jump, this time to campaign at cruiserweight in 2026, and longtime promoter Eddie Hearn told The Ring his thoughts on how the 28-year-old fares against two of the d...

Despite being crowned the WBC light heavyweight champion a few months ago, David Benavidez appears done with the weight division for the meantime.

Following his seventh-round stoppage win over Anthony Yarde on November 22 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Benavidez shared his next fight would take place at 200-pounds against unified WBA/WBO champion Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez in May.

Ramirez is slated to return from shoulder surgery in a title defence with Robin Safar on Jan. 16, though if all goes to plan, Benavidez would be next for him four months later.

In that scenario, promoter Eddie Hearn likes his chances in a pick 'em fight. If he attempts to take on Ring and IBF beltholder Opetaia though, it's a different story.

"I don't think he beats Jai Opetaia," Hearn told The Ring. "I think he could beat Zurdo, but I'm not so sure."

Much like Benavidez, Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) is fresh off his own destructive victory, an eighth-round stoppage of Huseyin Cinkara on December 8. Immediately after pleasing his hometown fans at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, the Aussie called Ramirez out.

"I needed that humble pie, watch this space. We want unifications fights, Zurdo, I'm chasing belts, I've been asking for them for a long time. But we're gonna go back to the gym and sharpen up," he said during his post-fight interview.

Although widely recognized as two of the best cruiserweights around, a fight between them has failed to materialize. Ramirez last defended his unified titles with a workmanlike points win over former champion Yuniel Dorticos on June 28.

In Hearn's ideal world, Opetaia and Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) would get it on next. But, with Benavidez now readying himself to get his feet wet in the division, the longtime promoter believes an all-Mexican affair isn't a bad idea.