Wilder vs Opetaia confirmed, Usyk eyes Benavidez

Oleksandr Usyk has set his sights on David Benavidez.

The Ukrainian legend revealed his intentions during Canelo Alvarez's return to the ring in Riyadh last weekend.

"I cleaned the heavyweight and make my weight," Usyk told Mike Coppinger live on DAZN PPV.

"It's a big fight because Benavidez is a big champion. Me, a little bit, too."

Usyk, 39, previously reigned as undisputed champion at cruiserweight and twice at heavyweight.

A fight against Benavidez would bring together two undefeated stars from different weight divisions.

Benavidez is the WBC interim light heavyweight champion and has never lost a professional fight.

Usyk's announcement came just as another major fight was confirmed.

Deontay Wilder will face unbeaten cruiserweight star Jai Opetaia on December 11.

The fight is part of the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard in Cardiff.

Opetaia, 31, is stepping up to heavyweight after defeating Brandon Glanton and Norair Mikaeljan earlier this year.

He will now face one of boxing's most dangerous punchers at the Principality Stadium.

Wilder enters the contest following a split-decision victory over Derek Chisora in April.

The 41-year-old former WBC champion has 45 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw.

Forty-three of his victories came by knockout or technical knockout.

Opetaia is unbeaten with 31 wins from 31 fights, 24 of them by knockout.

Dana White, Opetaia's promoter, confirmed the matchup.

"The co-main event is officially set," White said, as quoted by BoxingScene.

"These two fighters have a combined 67 knockouts. You do not want to miss this fight."

White previously acknowledged the risks involved for Opetaia.

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

For Opetaia, this will be his first professional bout in the heavyweight division.

The Australian has so far competed at cruiserweight, where he won the vacant "regular" WBA world title.

In September, he defended his position against Noel Mikaelian, whom he defeated by technical knockout.

Wilder once held boxing's best knockout record, having stopped every man he faced on his way to becoming WBC champion.

He held the title for four years until he came up against Tyson Fury.

They drew the first fight, then Fury knocked out Wilder in the next two.

Since the last of the trilogy contests in 2021, Wilder has been rather inactive.

He has fought just six times in five years.

He lost to Zhilei Zhang by stoppage and Joseph Parker on points.

Last time out in April, he secured a points win over Derek Chisora.

Former super middleweight champion George Groves has given his prediction.

Speaking to Pro Boxing Fans, Groves was asked who he thinks comes out on top.

"I think Opetaia wins. I think he does stop Wilder," Groves said.

"I've a good relationship with both camps, both guys."

"I've spent some time with Opetaia, and I think he's a proven talent, a tremendous figure, and maybe the best is still to come."

"With Wilder, you can't say the same; you don't think the best is to come with Wilder."

"It's a dangerous fight for him. He's a good lad, I wish him well. Hopefully it's a good fight."

The main event of the evening features Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in an all-British heavyweight clash.

The rest of the card has not yet been fully announced.

Usyk's potential move to cruiserweight adds another layer of intrigue to the division.

He has already cleaned out the heavyweight division twice.

A fight with Benavidez would be a massive crossover event.

Benavidez is undefeated and has been calling for big fights.

Usyk's comments suggest he is serious about making it happen.

The December 11 card in Cardiff is shaping up to be one of the biggest events of the year.

With Wilder vs Opetaia as the co-main event, the undercard is already generating buzz.

Fans will be watching closely to see how Opetaia handles the step up in weight.

Wilder will be looking to prove he still has power at 41.

The fight brings together two of the most explosive punchers in the sport.

Combined, they have 67 knockouts.

That number alone guarantees fireworks.

Usyk's future remains uncertain.

He has not officially confirmed a date or venue for the Benavidez fight.

But his public statement has set the boxing world talking.

If the fight happens, it would be one of the most ambitious moves in recent boxing history.

Usyk has never lost a professional fight.

Benavidez has never lost a professional fight.

Both are champions in their own right.

The boxing calendar for the end of 2026 is already packed.

December 11 will be a key date for the sport.

The Fury-Joshua fight is expected to draw a massive global audience.

The Wilder-Opetaia undercard fight will be streamed live on Netflix.

That gives both fighters unprecedented exposure.

Opetaia's promoter Dana White has been clear about the risks.

But Opetaia has shown he is willing to take on the biggest challenges.

Wilder, despite his recent losses, remains a dangerous opponent.

One punch can change everything.

That is what makes this fight so compelling.

The boxing world will be watching Cardiff on December 11.

And Usyk's next move could reshape the entire landscape.

For now, the focus is on the fights that have been confirmed.