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Benavidez Sr. Views Opetaia as a Tune-Up Fight

about 1 month agoUS
Benavidez Sr. Views Opetaia as a Tune-Up FightSource: ringmagazine.com
Jose Benavidez Sr., father and trainer of David Benavidez, considers a potential fight against Jai Opetaia as a tune-up for his son. This perspective comes despite Opetaia's expressed interest in facing the winner of the upcoming Benavidez vs. Ramirez cruiserweight title fight.

Key Insights

Jai Opetaia (25-0) has called out the winner of the Gilberto Ramirez (47-1) vs. David Benavidez (29-0) fight.

Jose Benavidez Sr. believes Opetaia is not yet a dangerous fighter and needs more experience.

Benavidez Sr. suggests Opetaia looked tired and struggled in his recent fight, despite winning.

Opetaia was stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title after moving to Zuffa Boxing, complicating a potential title fight with Benavidez.

Benavidez also mentioned he might move down to 175 pounds to fight Dmitry Bivol or up to heavyweight.

In-Depth Analysis

Jai Opetaia, despite his undefeated record, is being viewed as a less-than-formidable opponent by Jose Benavidez Sr. Opetaia's recent move to Zuffa Boxing and subsequent stripping of the IBF title have complicated his standing in the cruiserweight division. Benavidez Sr. questions what title would be at stake, given Zuffa's apparent distance from major boxing organizations like the WBC and IBF. Opetaia's response to Benavidez was a direct challenge to face the winner of the Benavidez-Ramirez fight, underscoring his desire to compete against top-tier opponents. Benavidez has also mentioned potentially moving to different weight classes, indicating uncertainty in his future plans, while Ramirez has hinted at ending his career soon.

FAQs

Q: Why does Jose Benavidez Sr. consider Jai Opetaia a tune-up fight?

He believes Opetaia needs more experience and isn't currently a dangerous opponent for his son, David.

Q: What happened to Jai Opetaia's IBF title?

He was stripped of the title after moving to Zuffa Boxing and taking a non-title sanctioned fight.

Q: What are Benavidez's future plans?

Benavidez is considering moving down to light heavyweight to fight Dmitry Bivol or moving up to heavyweight.

Key Takeaways

Jai Opetaia is actively seeking a fight against the winner of Benavidez vs. Ramirez.

Benavidez Sr.’s assessment suggests a lack of immediate interest in an Opetaia fight, citing Opetaia's need for more experience and the absence of a significant title.

The boxing landscape is shifting, with fighters like Benavidez considering moves to different weight classes, adding uncertainty to potential matchups.

Discussion

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