Opetaia Blasts Benavidez After Booking Mikaelian Title Fight

Jai Opetaia will defend his Ring Magazine cruiserweight title against WBC champion Noel Mikaelian on Sept. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, according to Zuffa Boxing.

The unbeaten Australian comes in at 30-0 with 23 knockouts and captured Zuffa's inaugural cruiserweight strap by outpointing Brandon Glanton earlier this year. Mikaelian, who took the WBC belt from Badou Jack by unanimous decision last December, carries a 28-3 record into the co-main event slot beneath Ryan Garcia's welterweight title defense against Conor Benn.

Opetaia Takes Aim At Benavidez Over Missed Fight

Opetaia had targeted a unification bout with WBA and WBO cruiserweight titlist David Benavidez, but negotiations broke down after Benavidez moved up to heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight and defeated Zurdo Ramirez in June. The snub drew a sharp response from the Australian. "This is a huge card, and I look forward to showing the world once again why I'm the best cruiserweight on the planet," Opetaia said in the Zuffa Boxing release, per MMA Mania. "Credit to Noel for stepping up to the plate while others – yes, David Benavidez, I'm talking about you – continue to run and hide."

Benavidez has stated repeatedly he has no interest in pursuing the Zuffa belt or working with the promotion. A unification clash between Mikaelian and Benavidez was ordered by sanctioning bodies earlier this year and talks were active before Benavidez pivoted to the higher weight class.

Only Opetaia's Ring championship will be at stake when the bout streams live on Paramount+ in the United States and DAZN in the UK.

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Opetaia vs. Mikaelian Co-Headlines Garcia vs. Benn On Sept. 12 | MMA Mania