The winner would control three of boxing’s four recognized world championships, leaving only the IBF version outside their possession. That title is expected to be filled separately after Jai Opetaia was stripped earlier this year, creating a clear route toward full divisional supremacy.
Mikaelian has fought once in almost three years and carries zero mainstream profile outside of hard-core boxing circles. Collecting that WBC belt gives Benavidez three-quarters of the titles, but as far as public perception and elite competition go, it feels like checking a box rather than taking a real risk.
A move to heavyweight for Benavidez would create matchups that carry far more public interest than bouts against little-known titleholders. Moses Itauma, for example, would represent a far greater measuring stick than Mikaelian and would likely generate substantially more attention.
Here is why jumping straight to Jai Opetaia or heavyweight makes way more sense. Opetaia is universally recognized as the true lineage king and most dangerous man at 200 pounds. While collecting three belts looks great on a resume, beating Mikaelian does not convince anyone that Benavidez is the top cruiserweight on the planet.
Only beating Opetaia does that. If the ultimate goal in the division is undisputed status, taking on a long-inactive titleholder first just delays the fight everyone actually wants to see.
Moving up to heavyweight instantly changes the financial and cultural landscape for Benavidez. Bouts against rising, high-profile heavyweights like Moses Itauma or established contenders carry ten times the crossover appeal of a Mikaelian fight.
Benavidez has always been huge for 168 and 175, and at six-foot-two with his structural build, he can comfortably pack on solid weight without losing his work rate. Heavyweight is where the mega-money fights live, especially with Saudi backing driving huge fight cards.
Hunting down fragmented titles against low-profile sanctioning body belts wastes valuable time in a fighter’s prime. Taking on Opetaia settles the cruiserweight debate immediately, and moving straight to heavyweight skips the fluff to put him where the real money and legacy fights are.
