Boxing
Opetaia claims Benavidez and Zurdo are avoiding him in 2026
Published
4 months agoon
Jai Opetaia says David Benavidez and WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto Zurdo Ramirez are “dodging” him by fighting on May 2, 2026. He claims they don’t want to fight.
Opetaia calls it duck
Jai doesn’t understand why Zurdo (48-1, 30 KO) is facing Benavidez, who only recently moved up to 168 in 2024. He believes that he should fight him in a three-belt unification fight.
IBF cruiserweight champion Opetaia (28-0, 22 KO) says he wants to fight the winner of Benavidez vs. Zurdo, not because he wants either of them. He is focused on winning the WBA and WBO titles to become undisputed in the cruiserweight division.
“The Mexican Monster” Benavidez (31-0, 25 KO) had a look of surprise on his face when he was asked at the post-fight press conference last Saturday night if he would stay at cruiserweight and face Opetaia if he was victorious over Zurdo Ramirez. He didn’t seem to expect the question about why he hadn’t chosen Jai.
Fans notice Benavidez’s hesitation
While Benavidez said he did, he didn’t show the same energy he had when talking about fighting Ramirez. His behavior was noticed by fans on social media, who took it as a signal that he did not want to associate with Opetaia.
It’s one thing to move up to cruiserweight to face the 34-year-old Ramirez, but it’s a completely different situation facing Jai, who has one-punch power and lightning-fast hand speed. If Benavidez decides not to fight Opetaia, it will be understandable and he cannot be blamed for not taking that risk.
Benaivdez is currently on a heated streak, beating 175-pounders with his punching power, speed and size. Moving up to cruiserweight to fight the division king in Opetai could derail his career.
The cruiserweight king speaks
“They are clearly evading. It’s very obvious that they don’t want to fight,” Jai Opetaia said Jai McAllisterin reaction to the information that on May 2, 2026, David Benavidez will fight the WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.
It would say a lot about Benavidez’s career if he moved up to the cruiserweight division to face Opetaia for the IBF belt in his first fight. He would show his mettle by fighting him straight up instead of jumping straight into the cruiserweight division against the aging 34-year-old Zuro Ramirez, who must beat Yuniel Dorticos and Chris Billiam-Smith after 12 rounds.
“In my opinion, you want to get better, raise your level and prove that you are the best,” Opetaia said. “But these guys see it a different way. Who knows what they’re aiming for? What is he proving? What is Zurdo trying to prove? Does this prove he’s the best in the cruiserweight division? I don’t think so.”
Ramirez would fight Benavidez because he obviously believes he can win. Moreover, considering that Benavidez is currently fighting in Turki Alalshikh’s Riyad Season, Gilberto fighting him makes financial sense. Not only does he have a chance to win, but the money will make it worth it.
Zurdo chooses the easier path
“He’s fighting a guy [Benavidez] who will fight in two weight classes,” Opetaia said about Zurdo. “What does that mean? You tell me. What should I say to that? If he wants to be the best, he has to beat the best. He certainly doesn’t do that.”
Benavidez moved up to 175 pounds three fights ago against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15, 2024. He wasn’t looking good until last Saturday night when he fought 34-year-old Anthony Yarde, a fighter tailor-made for Benavidez.
“Yes, of course. It’s obviously something we want to do,” Opetaia said when asked if he wanted to fight the winner of Benavidez vs. Zurdo Ramirez. “We don’t chase competitors. We chase belts.”
Bob Smith wrote for Boxing News 24 since 2008, making him one of the site’s longest-serving contributors. With over a decade of experience, he has established himself as a senior boxing writer who accurately covers the global fight scene.
Bob’s work includes fight reports, news and features featuring world champions and emerging fighters alike, giving fans a clear picture of the sport’s past and present. Known for his consistency, accuracy and deep understanding of boxing, Bob remains a trusted voice for readers who want to stay up to date with global martial arts news.
Last update: 24/11/2025
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“I just want to fight in Dublin to finish my career. Of course we’re still hoping for Croke Park, holding on to a little bit of hope that it will happen,” Taylor told RTE.
“Fighting my last fight in our most iconic arena. How special would that be? I think it would be absolutely extraordinary if I was able to do it. I’m not sure if it will happen or not. Either way, I will end my career here and I’m very excited about that.”
Taylor has only fought twice in Ireland as a professional, both fights will take place in 2023 against Chantelle Cameron at the 3Arena in Dublin. Cameron won her first fight by majority decision, handing Taylor the only defeat of her career, before Taylor regained the undisputed junior welterweight championship six months later in a rematch.
The 38-year-old Irish star remains one of the greatest fighters in women’s boxing history. Taylor won Olympic gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics before turning professional and quickly winning world titles in two categories. In 2019, she became the undisputed lightweight champion and later repeated the feat at 140 pounds.
Much of Taylor’s recent profile has been built on her rivalry with Amanda Serrano. Their first fight at Madison Square Garden in 2022 was widely celebrated and helped augment the visibility of women’s boxing. Taylor later completed the trilogy by majority vote in July, increasing her record to 25-1 (6 KO).
The possibility of saying goodbye to the stadium became the subject of interest for its long-time promoter. Hearn admitted it would take significant work to turn the idea into reality, but he believes this moment will be historic for Irish sport.
“It’s a hell of a lot of work to make sure one of the greatest athletes of all time fulfills her biggest dream. And I have to deliver Croke Park. I have to,” Hearn said on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“If I don’t give it my all, if I don’t put in every effort to make it happen, I won’t do justice to Katie and I won’t do it to myself. Because it would be the biggest sporting event in Irish history.”
Hearn said talks with Croke Park officials had taken place previously and had resumed as Taylor’s career came to an end.
“There is more momentum this time,” he said.
No opponent has been determined for Taylor’s last fight. Hearn said the focus remains on determining whether the stadium plan can be secured before making any player selections.
“Obviously you want to have an opponent who is compelling, competitive and has a story behind it,” Hearn said. “Nothing has really been discussed or said about the opponent. We are really trying to ensure that discussions with Croke Park allow for that possibility before we pursue it further.”
Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most crucial fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.
Boxing
Gervonta Davis is close to returning to action, according to her opponent’s name
Published
4 hours agoon
March 10, 2026
It looks like Gervonta Davis is one step away from confirming her return to the ring.
Davis last fought in March 2025, when he earned a majority draw with Lamont Roach to defend his WBA lightweight title.
It was a controversial result, with many feeling that Roach had done enough to get the nod, especially after a knockdown was not awarded in his favor after “Tank” voluntarily chose to take a knee in round nine.
The next 12 months left many in doubt as to whether Davis would return to play at all. A planned exhibition with Jake Paul in November has been canceled over the Baltimore man’s naming in a civil lawsuit over domestic allegations, the latest in a string of issues going beyond the ropes.
Another drama occurred after an arrest warrant was issued for “Tank”, citing similar accusations, which led to him being stripped of his WBA lightweight title.
Regardless, it looks like Davis is ready to make a comeback after this happened Reported by Mike Coppinger that he is in advanced talks about a fight with Isaac Cruz, the man whom “Tank” considered his number one target at the end of last year.
Davis has already secured a victory over Cruz, who last fought in December when he fought to a majority draw against former foe “Tank” Roach – a fighter he believes should be given a chance to face him again.
Boxing
The fight between Luis Nery and John Riel Casimero will take place on April 18 in Kyrgyzstan
Published
6 hours agoon
March 9, 2026
Neither player holds a title and neither has been part of any real championship talk in recent seasons. Nery has already held the bantamweight and junior featherweight belts, although his recent appearances at featherweight have shown that the path up is confined. At 126 pounds, he looked undersized and unable to apply the same pressure that once carried him through lighter divisions, which makes a return to 122 pounds a more practical move.
Saikou x Lush Boxing will promote the event as part of a three-day boxing show in the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The gala will be held at the Gazprom Sports Convoluted, an extraordinary setting for two players who regularly appeared on larger international stages at the beginning of their careers.
Nery (37-2, 28 KO) will fight in Kyrgyzstan for the second time in a row after appearing there in October last year. The 31-year-old Mexican southpaw defeated Sathaporn Saart by technical decision in the eighth round after an accidental head collision put the fight on the scorecards.
The win was his second in a row since Naoya Inoue stopped him in the sixth round in May 2024. Nery made a comeback earlier in 2025, stopping Kyonosuke Kameda in the seventh round before extending his rebound stretch with a victory over Saart.
Casimero (35-5-1, 24 KOs), now 37, built his reputation by winning junior flyweight, flyweight and bantamweight titles early in his career. Activity has been confined and results inconsistent over the past few seasons, leading to him being 2-1-1 in his last four fights.
His last fight was in December, when he defeated Tom Mizokoshi in the fifth round in Japan. Two months earlier, he appeared at the same October gala in Kyrgyzstan, where Nery fought Saart and lost to Kameda by unanimous decision of ten rounds.
The April meeting brings together two former champions who once operated at the forefront of the sport’s lighter divisions. At this stage, it could be read as more of a veteran clash between recognizable names rather than a fight expected to impact the junior featherweight championship race.
Tomek Galm is a boxing journalist covering the global fight landscape since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, industry trends and fighter psychology.
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