The boxing world is in a time of important definitions for the heavy categories. The current unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion, David Benavídez, has recently shared his perspective on the difficulties in making one of the most anticipated matchups by fans: the duel against the Australian Jai Opetaia.

Through an interview granted to BoxingScene, the American boxer of Mexican origin, detailed that the main inconvenience does not lie in sports, but in business structures.

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According to David Benavídez, Zuffa Boxing's incursion into the panorama is generating obstacles that prevent this battle from being formalized in the short term.

The political barriers in current boxing

For the “Mexican Monster”, this fight represents the most relevant event that can be offered today within its weight class. However, Opetaia's decision to unite The promoter led by Dana White has cooled the negotiations, since the American champion has no interest in linking with said organization for his upcoming defences.

In his statements to the cited source, David Benavídez expressed clearly: “I don't know why he went to Zuffa. We could have organized this fight right after this. I'm not going to go "I'm going to fight for a Zuffa title." This stance draws a clear line on how politics between rival promoters like PBC, DAZN and Zuffa is affecting the athlete's agenda.

The commercial value versus the strategy of Zuffa

A key point in David Benavídez's speech is the difference in the calling power between both boxers. The unified monarch remembered that he is a consolidated figure a in the pay-per-view (PPV) system and that has the capacity to fill large venues, something that, in his words, the Australian hasn't yet experienced in his career.

“It's I who fills these stadiums, it's I who fights on pay-per-view. Jai Opetaia has never fought on pay-per-view. He's never filled a stadium,” the boxer argued for BoxingScene. With this, David Benavídez seeks to make clear that the offer that he puts on the table is economically more tempting than any path that Opetaia could follow under its current representation.

A future open to negotiations

Despite the criticisms towards the management of the rival promoters, the sporting interest remains intact. The American reaffirmed that he isn't afraid of any opponent and that he is willing to fight s "If a fair deal is reached outside the restrictions imposed by current politics. “If they want to come to the negotiating table, we could do it. Let's do it!", he concluded with determination.

It is important to remember that David Benavídez arrives at this point after a solid performance on 2 May 2, where he conquered his current titles by beating Gilberto “Zurd” by TKO or” Ramírez in Las Vegas. For now, the future of this possible historical combat remains in the hands of the representatives and the ability to overcome the obstacles that today separate both champions.