Zuffa Boxing’s Power Play: Conor Benn and Jai Opetaia Caught in the Middle

How Conor Benn and Jai Opetaia Fit Into Zuffa’s Strategy

Benn and Opetaia were presented as centerpieces of Zuffa Boxing, but industry analysis indicates both serve as pawns in a much broader promotional game, according to Yahoo Sports. Zuffa Boxing and TKO paid Conor Benn more than $30 million across two fights, partly to position the company to promote a future Garcia fight. Similarly, Jai Opetaia’s recent victory over Noel Mikaelian served as a direct route to setting up a high-profile matchup with David Benavidez.

The push into boxing has also triggered intense rivalry. Eddie Hearn and Matchroom experienced a devastating blow when Benn left the promotional stable, according to reports by The Independent. Hearn revealed that Benn did not afford him a phone call to discuss the move, stating to iFL TV that he misjudged the character of a fighter whom Matchroom supported through a multi-year drug testing controversy. Alongside the promotional battle, legal fronts have emerged, with promoter Frank Warren claiming $1bn in lost income from Zuffa Boxing’s owners, as detailed by The Independent.

Ryan Garcia’s Path Toward Zuffa Boxing

Ryan Garcia’s relationship with promoter Oscar De La Hoya has remained strained for years, leading the fighter to look for a promoter who respects his career value, as reported by Yahoo Sports. Garcia experienced a massive financial promotion during his April 2023 fight against Gervonta “Tank” Davis on Showtime, which generated 1.2 million pay-per-view buys and a $22.8 million gate. Following that event, Garcia sued Golden Boy to exit his contract.

With only one fight remaining on his Golden Boy deal, Garcia recently fought Benn on a Ring Magazine-funded show distributed on Paramount+. The event was heavily positioned as a TKO/Zuffa production featuring Dana White, while De La Hoya was entirely absent from the build-up and fight night. Speaking to Uncrowned on Monday, Garcia expressed enthusiasm about working with Zuffa, signaling that a permanent switch could follow his final Golden Boy commitment.

David Benavidez and the Cruiserweight Picture

David Benavidez is also down to his final fight under his deal with PBC and promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, according to Yahoo Sports. After failing to secure fights against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez at 168 pounds or top contenders Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev at 175 pounds, Benavidez has moved up to cruiserweight. Following Opetaia’s ninth-round stoppage of Noel Mikaelian, Benavidez entered the ring for a face-off with the Australian cruiserweight, who called him out directly.

Because Garcia and Benavidez have discussed sharing a card next May, Zuffa’s acquisition of Opetaia provides a direct carrot to entice Benavidez into the Zuffa fold, Yahoo Sports noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the key fighters targeted by Zuffa Boxing?

According to sports reports, Ryan Garcia and David Benavidez are prime targets as they approach free agency, while Conor Benn and Jai Opetaia have already been signed to Zuffa’s roster.

Why did Conor Benn leave Eddie Hearn?

Conor Benn left Matchroom and promoter Eddie Hearn to sign a lucrative deal with Zuffa Boxing, a move that left Hearn blindsided after supporting Benn through a multi-year drug testing saga, as reported by The Independent.

What is Jai Opetaia’s role in Zuffa’s strategy?