Benavidez reveals if Opetaia can actually beat Wilder

David Benavidez has given his assessment of Jai Opetaia’s chances against Deontay Wilder when the two meet on December 11.

The cruiserweight champion spoke with Fight Hub TV about the heavyweight showdown.

Opetaia will make his heavyweight debut against the former WBC champion on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Benavidez and Opetaia have verbally agreed to fight each other at cruiserweight next year.

Benavidez currently holds the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles.

He is preparing to challenge WBC champion Michal Cieslak in a three-belt unification fight next month.

A victory would leave him one win away from becoming undisputed cruiserweight champion.

Opetaia has an ongoing lawsuit against the IBF.

He hopes the legal action will lead to his reinstatement as IBF world champion.

If that happens, a fight between Opetaia and Benavidez could be for all four cruiserweight belts.

Speaking about the Wilder fight, Benavidez said he understands why Opetaia took it.

“It’s a good fight, I realise that they want to stay busy because taking a whole year off and waiting until [our fight in] May will be a long time,” Benavidez told Fight Hub TV.

“I already have my obligations over here, they are doing their thing.

“Both of us have good fights until we have our showdown next May.”

Benavidez then gave his honest read on how the fight might play out.

He said Opetaia can beat Wilder — if he avoids one specific thing.

“I think that it is dangerous because you can see that Jai Opetaia gets hurt a lot and I am not trying to discredit him or nothing,” Benavidez said.

“It has been shown that he has been hurt a lot by fighters that are slower.

“Deontay Wilder, say what you want about him, he still has that fast right-hand.

“So, if Wilder can get that in then Opetaia would have to face some adversity.

“But, if he neutralises the right-hand, I don’t think that he should have a problem with him at all.”

Benavidez’s analysis points to a clear path for Opetaia.

Wilder has 42 knockouts in 45 wins, with most coming from his signature right hand.

Opetaia has been hurt in recent fights, including his last outing against Norair Mikaeljan where he took several right hands.

The Australian cruiserweight is 31-0 with 24 knockouts.

Wilder is 45-4-1 with 43 knockouts.

Wilder’s career has declined sharply since his trilogy with Tyson Fury.

He took two brutal beatings in those fights.

He then lost to Joseph Parker by decision in December 2023, a fight where he appeared hesitant to throw punches.

His next fight ended in a knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang in June 2024.

Wilder returned with a split-decision win over Derek Chisora earlier this year.

Many observers believe Wilder is no longer the same fighter who reigned as WBC champion for five years.

Opetaia’s promoter Dana White acknowledged the risk of the matchup.

“It’s a very dangerous fight for him considering where he sits in his division right now,” White told Sky Sports.

The fight is part of a massive card headlined by Fury vs Joshua.