Dana White made his first marquee signing on the weekend with the announcement that cruiserweight champion, Jai Opetaia had inked a deal with Zuffa Boxing.
White revealed the shock acquisition of IBF titlist, Opetaia ahead of his first Zuffa Boxing card on Friday at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas headlined by Callum Walsh’s clash with Carlos Ocampo.
Opetaia was previously aligned with White’s rival, Eddie Hearn alongside Mick Francis’ Tasman Fighters, who will continue to promote the Australian with Zuffa.
“I’m pumped for what’s next,” the 30-year-old said.
“I want these big fights and I’m ready to prove myself on the world stage.”
The UFC boss teamed up with Saudi Arabian boxing chief, Turki Alalshikh to launch Zuffa in June.
The partnership marked White’s first venture into boxing and the pair began with Terence Crawford’s undisputed super middleweight title win over Canelo Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium in September.
Journalist Sean Zittel has tipped White to add David Benavidez to his stable, who will move up to cruiserweight on May 2 to challenge unified WBO and WBA titlist, Zurdo Ramirez.
“I think the real play behind signing Jai Opetaia is getting David Benavidez,” Zittel said on his YouTube channel.
“If you’re looking for your first true face of the company, what you tell David Benavidez is, ‘if you come here and sign with us, you get the man.’
“‘You get Jai Opetaia, the lineal champion and if you win, you are the star and the champion that you deserve to be for years now.’
“Opetaia is a really good signing, but I think the real play is, get David Benavidez in the ring with Jai Opetaia.”
Benavidez fought for the first time under Alalshikh’s Ring Magazine banner in Riyadh in November, stopping Anthony Yarde in the seventh round to retain his WBC light heavyweight world title.
Opetaia has grown frustrated in his attempts at securing unifications, but has continuously insisted that he won’t move up to heavyweight until he lures the other belt holders into a ring with him.
