October 10, 2026 - A heavyweight bout between Jai Opetaia and Deontay Wilder is being explored as part of the undercard for the Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fight scheduled for December 11 in Cardiff. Sources report that this match will not affect any potential showdown with Benavidez, who is scheduled to fight Cieslak on December 5.
October 7, 2026 - Trainer Robert Garcia favors David Benavidez to win a potential fight against Jai Opetaia, noting that Opetaia showed vulnerability and was stunned by hard punches in a previous bout. Garcia believes Benavidez would capitalize on that kind of opening instead of letting his opponent off the hook.
September 20, 2026 - Jose Benavidez Sr. believes that Jai Opetaia lacks the skill and experience to match David Benavidez. He compares this situation to his past assessment that Morell needed more experience, predicting a similar outcome for Opetaia.
October 10, 2026 - A heavyweight bout between Jai Opetaia and Deontay Wilder is being explored as part of the undercard for the Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fight scheduled for December 11 in Cardiff. Sources report that this match will not affect any potential showdown with Benavidez, who is scheduled to fight Cieslak on December 5.
October 7, 2026 - Trainer Robert Garcia favors David Benavidez to win a potential fight against Jai Opetaia, noting that Opetaia showed vulnerability and was stunned by hard punches in a previous bout. Garcia believes Benavidez would capitalize on that kind of opening instead of letting his opponent off the hook.
September 19, 2026 - Jai Opetaia remains confident that a fight with David Benavidez will happen and still believes in achieving his undisputed dream.
September 18, 2026 - Roy Jones Jr. believes that Jai Opetaia is a younger, stronger, and much more dangerous opponent for David Benavidez than Oleksandr Usyk would be. Roy Jones Jr. argued that Benavidez should have chosen to fight Usyk instead of Opetaia.
