Which is a bigger mismatch. Jai Opetaia vs David Benavidez or Oleksandr Usyk vs Jai Opetaia

Opetaia will show something to an aged Usyk that hasn't seen for a long time, a quick South Paw with good movement, who can keep a decent pace.

Where as Benivedaz has nothing for Opetaia except volume, he will even be at a size disadvantage, something Benividez hasn't really had to deal with before.

 

Opetai will smash Benavidez

Opetaia is actually stylistically a hard fight for Usyk. For one, Usyk has not fought a southpaw in 7 years. Usyk's natural advantages over right handers will not work here.

Usyk's great defense will not be as great vs Jai since the punches will come from angles that Usyk is not accustomed to.

Usyk defeated 2 good southpaws early at cruiserweight. Glowacki was a solid fighter but not as fast and powerful as Jai. Mnchunu was nowhere near as dangerous or tall as Jai and yet he was landing surprisingly easily on Usyk before Usyk beat him down.

Given how easily Mnchunu was landing on Usyk, it is pretty clear his defensive skills are not equally great vs fellow lefties.

Jai is younger, faster and harder hitting than Usyk. Usyk is smarter, defensively more sound, and has better stamina than Jai. Usyk should beat Jai especially given that Opetaia fades late in fights but anyone who thinks Jai wouldn't be incredibly competitive vs Usyk doesn't know boxing.

Styles make fights.

 

Jai
Height 6 ft 2 in
Reach 76 in
Usyk
6ft 3 in
Reach 78 in
Benavidez
Height 6 ft 2 in
Reach 74+1⁄2 in
Usyk would exploit his reach advantage better than Jai can, I think Benavidez could give Jai problems.

 

Good question, hard to say - all three listed are good fighters that have proven themselves.

It just comes down to styles really. I feel Benavidez's style would struggle to translate to CW against someone just as good if not even better at a similar style considering how dangerous Opetaia is.

 

Opetaia would be too much for Benavidez at Cruiserweight. Benavidez power has already diminished at 175.
Usyk v Opetaia would be a good fight at the moment I favor Usyk on points but the older he gets the more risk he is at losing.

 

I don’t see how Jai vs Usyk is a mismatch. Usyk would likely win because of Jai’s suspect stamina, but it would be really competitive in the first half.

 

Did anyone else see the opetaia vs breidis 2 fight?? It ****ing sucked and opetais looked like crap. Guy like that would never ever give usyk any real problems. Simple fighter, lacks dimension, lacks the ferocity needed to truly overcome an old-ass breidis and struggled.
I see benavidez giving opetaia problems simply because benavjdez will bring fire to the fight. Jai is a pussycat, like callum smith.

 

Opetia was beating Breidis quite handily until he got caught with some massive right hands late. Breidis is a bigger puncher than Usyk. And let's not forget Breidis gave Usyk a nightmare of a fight.

Lacks ferocity? Opetaia is arguably the most ferocious fighter in the world.

 

I would argue that ferociousness is the opposite of composure and is a trait that is undeniable in boxing, I also don’t think it’s fair to describe jai in that way.
I like the guy a lot but he lacks the ability to manage fights, when he takes rounds off it doesn’t seem to be tactical it seems like he’s spent too much energy, which can happen in boxing but he doesn’t have the ring experience to disguise it, he got tired in the Massey fight when he should have already closed the show but he didn’t manage his energy levels and Massey had some success when he should have been stretched out.
I don’t know what he can achieve in boxing but at elite level this will not go unpunished.

 

Jai is cool but he is way overrated by people. His resume outside of Briedis is literally cab drivers, yet apparently David is a mismatch. Hilarious.

 

Breidis vs usyk was energetic, exciting, prime for prime, 7 years ago. Breidis vs jai was a snoozefest last year and I saw no spark in the guy. It was not ferocious, words have meaning.

 

Usyk plays with Opie who looks good vs D level guys but struggles with good boxers.

Benavidez gives him a good fight and I'd favor him as well over Opie although at CW the weight disparity might be the determining factor.

 

Opetaia might actually give Usyk issues. No southpaw advantage, no speed advantage, etc. if they fought, Opetaia should NOT bulk up, and should show up at his usual ring weight. Just a guess, something like 208-210?

Bulking wouldn’t help him — Usyk doesn’t shove or wrestle, so physical strength doesn’t matter as much. And Opetaia at CW already hits harder than Usyk at HW, so power isn’t an issue.

but speed? Usyk is used to being the quicker guy. He would not be against Opetaia.

 

If this cruiser is so good and we definitely keep hearing about how amazing he is, then why not just fight at HW?
As we know, Uysk is a natural cruiser.
Povetkin was a natural cruiser.
Chisora is a fat cruiser.
Cunningham fought up there.
Even Adamek came up from LHW and fought there.

What's the problem? I feel like maybe there's a bit of hype going on.