Jose Benavidez Sr. sent Turki Alalshikh a message asking him to make David Benavidez vs. Jai Opetaia for Cinco de Mayo. His messages show clear interest, but also reveal that Opetaia’s team has not responded.
One of the messages named Cinco de Mayo as the date for the fight:
“Hello Your Excellency, let’s make the fight on 5 de Mayo: Jai Opetaia vs. Benavidez,” Benavidez Sr. displayed the exchange during a video with boxing commentator Ricardo Celis.
Benavidez Sr. also contacted Opetaia through Instagram. He introduced himself as David’s father and manager, requested the contact information for Opetaia’s representative, and later complained that no one had returned his messages.
Cinco de Mayo 2027 is the likely target, although the year was not included in the message. David Benavidez is already scheduled to defend his cruiserweight titles against Michal Cieslak on December 12, 2026, leaving May 2027 as the first realistic opportunity for the Opetaia fight.
The attempt does not mean negotiations have started. It shows Benavidez Sr. attempting to open talks with Turki and Opetaia while offering one of boxing’s major Mexican dates. The lack of a response may indicate that the discussion has not progressed beyond the initial approach.
Another message asked Turki about making Oleksandr Usyk vs. David Benavidez. That was a separate request and was not tied specifically to Cinco de Mayo, despite a promotional poster circulating online that combines Usyk with the date.
A fight with Opetaia is the more realistic target. Both men hold cruiserweight belts, giving the bout greater sporting value than sending Benavidez directly into a heavyweight fight with Usyk.
First, Benavidez must defeat Cieslak in December. Opetaia also has his own plans to settle. Getting both champions into the ring during Cinco de Mayo weekend will need much more than an unanswered direct message.