David Benavidez Reveals Three-Fight Deal Targeting Usyk, Beterbiev, Opetaia

David Benavidez just gave boxing fans a roadmap, and it doesn't include Canelo Alvarez.

In a recent interview, the unified cruiserweight titleholder revealed he's signed a three-fight contract aimed at the division's biggest names: Jai Opetaia, Artur Beterbiev, and Oleksandr Usyk. If it happens, it's one of the most ambitious stretches of fights any boxer has lined up in years.

What Benavidez Actually Said

"This next contract I got, I signed a three-deal contract," Benavidez explained. "Where I'm going to sign a three-deal contract with after this fight... it's Beterbiev... Opetaia... and then we're maybe talking about Usyk." He was clear that these aren't empty callouts — he says the fights "need to happen" and "they're going to happen."

The only wrinkle is Usyk. Benavidez admitted he's "a little bit confused" on where that fight would take place, since it could land at cruiserweight or jump all the way to heavyweight depending on how things shake out.

Why This Is Happening Now

This plan comes right off the back of Benavidez's statement win over Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez on May 2, 2026, when he stopped him in the sixth round to become a unified cruiserweight champion. That win handed him the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles to go with his existing WBC and WBA (regular) super middleweight belts — making him a two-weight unified titlist in one night.

That kind of hardware gives him leverage, and he's clearly using it to chase legacy fights instead of waiting around for a Canelo rematch that keeps getting pushed further out of reach. Canelo, for his part, has been dealing with his own stumbles back toward championship form, which may be exactly why Benavidez is pivoting his focus elsewhere.

The Case for Each Fight

Opetaia is widely considered the top dog at cruiserweight and the fight the boxing world wants most. Beterbiev brings a terrifying knockout resume and would be a massive step up in puncher's power. And Usyk — regardless of weight class — is simply one of the greatest fighters of this generation, a fight that would instantly become the biggest of Benavidez's career.

What It Means for the Canelo Fight

Benavidez didn't mention Canelo at all in this breakdown, which says a lot on its own. For years, the Canelo fight was treated as the inevitable showdown. Now it sounds like Benavidez is done waiting and ready to build his legacy somewhere else entirely.

If even one of these three fights gets made, it instantly becomes one of the most talked-about bouts in boxing. If all three happen, Benavidez could walk away as the most decorated and tested fighter of his era — belts or no belts against Canelo.