Instead, Benavidez appears headed toward a three-belt unification with WBC champion Noel Mikaelian. According to reports, negotiations are advancing for the fight, with an agreement expected in the near future.

Benavidez’s longtime promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, explained why the team is pursuing Mikaelian rather than Opetaia.

“We’re not fighting for trophies. We want titles. We want the legacy for Benavidez. Opetaia has nothing [for us] besides making a good fight,” Lewkowicz said to Boxingscene.

The comments are unlikely to convince fans who have spent months pushing for a Benavidez-Opetaia matchup. While Opetaia no longer holds the IBF title, he remains the Ring champion and is considered by many followers of the sport to be the uncrowned king of the cruiserweight division.

For those fans, beating Opetaia would carry more significance than defeating any other cruiserweight because of his unbeaten record and reputation as the division’s leading fighter.

Lewkowicz, however, sees the Mikaelian fight as the better move from a championship standpoint. A victory would give Benavidez a third major belt and move him closer to becoming the division’s unified champion.

Lewkowicz also confirmed that discussions with Mikaelian promoter Don King took place this week and said a deal is expected to be reached shortly.

If the fight is finalized, Benavidez will have the chance to add another world title to his collection. The demand for an eventual showdown with Opetaia, however, is unlikely to disappear as long as the Australian remains the Ring champion and the fighter many regard as the best cruiserweight in boxing.