Jai Opetaia and David Benavidez have taken the matchmaking into their own hands after the Australian stopped Noel Mikaelian for the first time in the German-Armenian’s 32-fight career to pave the way for the Las Vegas blockbuster.
The cruiserweight improved to 31-0 on Sunday (AEST), picking apart the WBC champion before landing a short right hook in the ninth round that stunned Mikaelian at T-Mobile Arena.
He followed up with three more punches to send Mikaelian onto the ropes and trigger a standing count he had no chance of beating.
It was the first time Mikaelian had been stopped, after three tight losses and 28 wins previously.
American star Benavidez was ringside and Opetaia called him onto the canvas, where the two-belt cruiserweight champion, who has won world titles in two other divisions, agreed to fight the Australian on May 5 in Vegas next year.
“I’m still here, still undefeated and like I said — who’s next?” Opetaia, who had his IBF title stripped when debuting for new promoter Zuffa Boxing earlier this year, asked before inviting the WBA and WBO champion into the ring.
“I respect him. He’s done a lot for the sport and what better fight to make. Respectfully, let’s get it on.”
Benavidez is set to defend his belts in December but was keen to clear up any conjecture around his interest in fighting Opetaia, who was immediately sent to hospital for scans as a precaution following the fight.
“Let’s do it right here, Cinco de Mayo (May 5) next year,” Benavidez said, before the pair shook hands.
“I like this man. He looks like he likes war. I am the same way, so we’re going to give the fans a hell of a fight.”
Opetaia, sporting a swollen left eye from a first-round head clash, could not hide his delight.
“He’s said it now, he’s not taking it back,” the Australian said.
Zuffa boss Dana White, who runs UFC, is no fan of post-fight match-making in either sport but admitted the prospect of the pair facing off next year was irresistible.
“There was a lot of wheeling and dealing going on in this arena tonight,” he said.
Mikaelian entered the clash with the WBC belt but it’s unlikely that will be taken by Opetaia, given the organisation’s unwillingness to sanction the Zuffa bout.
Benavidez could hold it by the time they meet though, with his December fight potentially including that prize if opponent and number one WBC contender Michal Cieslak is awarded full status.
Opetaia remains in a court battle, with the IBF attempting to claim back his belt, while the WBA are currently the sole member of boxing’s four major bodies willing to work with Zuffa.
But with both boxers keen and the boxing world fixated on a match-up, White thinks the politics will be irrelevant.
“We’ve gotten into a better place with the sanctioning organisations so we’ll see how that plays out,” he said.
“But we all know these are the two baddest dudes in the world in that weight class. So belts, no belts, whatever.”
AAP
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