Tim Bradley believes a matchup between David Benavidez and Jai Opetaiathe two leading cruiserweights, is much less competitive than most would anticipate it being.

While nothing is set in stone, the pair have verbally agreed to collide on Cinco de Mayo weekend in 2027, with Benavidez seemingly willing to put his world titles on the line.

The ‘Mexican Monster’ became a three-division world champion in May, dethroning Gilberto Ramirez with a sixth-round stoppage for the WBO and WBA belts at 200lbs.

His next outing, meanwhile, is expected to be a unification match with WBC champion Michal Cieslak in December, when Opetaia could also return to action following his ninth-round stoppage of Noel Mikaelian last month.

The Australian has, in other words, been in talks to move up to heavyweight and face former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, potentially featuring on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

It remains to be seen whether this will actually take place on December 11, however, as Opetaia may instead look to preserve himself for a Benavidez showdown.

Speaking of which, Hall of Famer Bradley has told Ring Magazine that he maintains his belief that the 29-year-old would dominate the equally unbeaten Opetaia.

“Benavidez is going to motorboat his face with them punches and combinations, man. Okay, he’s been hurt [by previous opponents].

“But then what [does] he do? He finishes them; he destroys them. That’s what Benavidez does. Just because you get hurt don’t mean you weak.”

In terms of Benavidez showing signs of vulnerability, he has only ever been dropped by David Morrell and Ronald Gavril and, even then, these were more flash knockdowns than anything else.

Jaron Ennis is looking to capture the undisputed super-welterweight title within the next 12 months, and whilst many fans deem a potential bout against Sebastian Fundora to be his biggest obstacle, ‘Boots’ thinks his main concern is an alternate 154lb rival.

Ennis knocked out Xander Zayas to claim the WBA and WBO super-welterweight titles in a performance of the year candidate back at the Barclays Center in New York back in June, abandoning a possible super-fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr in order to pursue all four titles.

First, the Philadelphian seems poised to collide with IBF titleholder Josh Kelly, with that unification clash anticipated to take place in January in the United States.

The victor is then expected to meet with WBC titlist Fundora – who defended his world title with a final-second knockout triumph over Ermal Hadribeaj on Saturday – in mid-2027 in a battle to determine the second four-belt champion in the division’s history, after Jermell Charlo.

Yet, whilst stateside fans are currently debating whether the size of Fundora would be an issue for Ennis, ‘Boots’ told DAZN during the Fundora-Hadribeaj broadcast that he believes Kelly to be his toughest opponent in the super-welterweight division.

“The toughest [fight at 154]? I would say Josh Kelly. He can box, he can move, this is what everybody says that I can’t do! I am going to show y’all.”

Ennis-Kelly is close to being finalised for early Januarywith the State Farm Arena in Atlanta understood to be the most likely location for the event.

An in-demand showdown between Naoya Inoue and Jesse Rodriguez was beginning to look less likely, but there are now reports that a deal will be made for a new targeted date.

Following a career-best triumph over Junto Nakatani, Inoue was immediately mentioned for a clash with another pound-for-pound rival Rodriguez, who has since began his move up to super-bantamweight but has stopped off at bantamweight along the way.

At 118lbs, ‘Bam’ debuted with a knockout win against WBA titleholder Antonio Vargasbut wants one more outing in the division before heading to 122lbs, with a unification against WBO world champion Christian Medina being the most likely option.

In response, Inoue agreed to wait but set a deadline of March 2027 for their meeting, until suggestions of a fight in either April or May then caused Inoue to instead begin preparation for a move up to featherweight last week.

Yet, speaking with Ring MagazineRodriguez’s trainer Robert Garcia maintained confidence that a deal will be struck for Inoue vs Bam to take place in March.

“I think that Inoue is just playing it smart. I don’t think that he is backing out of the fight. We will make a deal for March.”

Rodriguez-Medina has been mentioned as a possible bout for the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard on Friday, December 11, alongside a potential heavyweight match-up involving Deontay Wilder and Jai Opetaia, as well as a proposed appearance from Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao.