Bradley Overlooks Opetaia Threat In Benavidez 175 Claim

Tim Bradley says David Benavidez is “not coming back” to 175 after he moves up to cruiserweight to fight WBA and WBO champion Gilberto Zurdo Ramirez on May 2, 2026. He believes that Benavidez (31-0, 25 KOs) won’t be coming back down to light heavyweight to try and fight Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol after that.

It’s going to be too hard physically for ‘The Mexican’ Monster’ Benavidez to drop all that weight after he bulks up to fight at 200 lbs against Zurdo (48-1, 30 KOs).

Why Cruiserweight Isn’t Safe for Benavidez

What Bradley is overlooking is Benavidez fleeing the 175-lb division under pressure to fight the King of the weight class, Jai Opetaia. He’s ultra-dangerous with one-punch power and destroys easy-to-hit fighters with no defense.

The way Benavidez fights, walking face-first into punches, wouldn’t work against Jai. We saw what happened to Benavidez when he fought David Morrell last February. His face was a complete mess from the Cuban’s power punches.

Benavidez had the look of a person shot with a dart gun last Saturday night when asked if he’ll fight IBF champion Opetaia after he faces Ramirez at cruiserweight. There was no mistaking the look of shock and fear in Benavidez’s eyes when asked if he would fight Jai.

Fear would be the catalyst to make Benavidez find a way to drain back down to 175 if he wants no part of fighting Opetaia after he clashes with Gilberto in May 2026.

After Benavidez moved up to light heavyweight in 2024, he said he couldn’t return to 168 when asked if he’d be willing to fight the undisputed super middleweight champion Terence Crawford after he defeated Canelo Alvarez on September 13th.

“Once he goes to 190, he’s not coming back down. And I’ll tell you this, that Zurdo fight isn’t an easy fight,” said Tim Bradley to Fighthype about David Benavidez not returning to 175 after he goes up to the 200-lb division at cruiserweight for his fight against unified champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez in 2026.

175 Might Become Benavidez’s Escape Route

Even if Benavidez did want to return to 175, he may not have a reason to if the bouts against Bivol or Beterbiev aren’t available to him for whatever reason. Those two still haven’t fought in their trilogy. They’re dealing with injuries and getting older. Being put off by those two for another year would make it nearly impossible for Benavidez to melt back down to fight at light heavyweight after being at cruiserweight.

“Zurdo can box. He comes with his own volume. Remember, Zurdo came from 168 lbs as well. So, he’s got some hand speed, some boxing ability, and he’s a southpaw just as big as he is. And, he’s been established in this weight class [cruiserweight] for some time. He can take a punch, too. I don’t think that’s an easy fight for Benavidez whatsoever,” said Bradley about the trouble Benavidez will have battling Ramirez.

Gilberto won’t be an easy out for WBC light heavyweight champion Benavidez like he had last Saturday night in his seventh-round knockout win over Anthony Yarde (27-4, 24 KOs) on November 22nd at the ANB Arena in Riyadh. Ramirez can fight, has size, power, a high work rate, and mobility. He’s got it all.