Boxing legend and four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr has weighed in on the heavily discussed potential matchup between David Benavidez and Jai Opetaia, revealing that he is backing Benavidez to come out on top if the two elite fighters eventually share the ring.
The prospective cruiserweight showdown has captured the imagination of the boxing world as both competitors carve out distinct paths toward the pinnacle of the division. Benavidez, known for his relentless pressure, immense output, and devastating combination punching, is currently in hot pursuit of the undisputed cruiserweight title. Having established his presence in the division, Benavidez is the proud holder of both the WBA and WBO world titles. However, the American star is not resting on his laurels and is expected to face a stiff test next against WBC titleholder Michal Cieslak in a high-stakes three-belt unification showdown scheduled for December 5.
While Benavidez charts a clear course through the sanctioning bodies, Jai Opetaia finds himself navigating a complex landscape both inside and outside the ring. Opetaia is currently involved in an ongoing legal battle against the IBF. The sanctioning body stripped him of his world title for a second time earlier this year, a decision that has deeply frustrated the hard-hitting Australian. Opetaia remains hopeful that his legal efforts will result in his reinstatement as the rightful champion. Should that outcome materialize, it would set the stage perfectly for a mega-fight against Benavidez with all four major world titles hanging in the balance.
Adding another layer of intrigue to Opetaia’s immediate future, the division standout is simultaneously being linked to a potential heavyweight debut. Rumors have circulated pointing to a massive crossover opportunity, with discussions mooting a possible bout against former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. That intriguing heavyweight attraction could potentially land on the blockbuster undercard of the Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua event slated for December at the Principality Stadium, presenting Opetaia with a massive global platform regardless of how his cruiserweight championship status shakes out.
It is against this backdrop of division-wide uncertainty and grand ambitions that Roy Jones Jr offered his expert analysis on the hypothetical collision between Benavidez and Opetaia. Speaking during an appearance on the Hall of Game podcast, Jones shared his thoughts on how the stylistic matchup would unfold, making it clear that he favors Benavidez to solve the puzzle presented by the Australian southpaw.
Detailing his perspective, Jones emphasized his desire to witness the contest before Benavidez makes any definitive moves toward the heavyweight division himself. "I want to see how David fares in that fight against Opetaia first before he moves up to heavyweight," Jones remarked during the podcast interview. Providing his direct assessment of the potential outcome, the Hall of Fame legend added, "I think that David probably wins the fight, but I want to see how he fares in the fight."
The path to an undisputed clash between Benavidez and Opetaia remains subject to various external factors, particularly regarding the political landscape of the cruiserweight division. Should Opetaia ultimately fail in his legal bid to be reinstated as the IBF cruiserweight champion, the governing body is expected to move forward by matching Viddal Riley and David Nyika for the vacant belt. In the event that another fighter captures or vies for that IBF strap, it remains entirely to be seen whether Benavidez would choose to divert from his outlined three-fight plan in order to secure the remaining pieces needed to capture the undisputed crown.
As December approaches, all eyes will be fixed on Benavidez’s unification bout against Michal Cieslak and the ongoing developments surrounding Opetaia’s legal challenges and potential heavyweight exploits. Until those chapters are written, the debate over how a Benavidez-Opetaia clash would materialize—and whether Roy Jones Jr’s prediction would prove accurate—will continue to be one of the most compelling talking points in the sport of boxing.
