Oleksandr Usyk has said he intends to return to cruiserweight after 'cleaning out' the heavyweight division, with a planned path toward a vacant world title fight and then a unification bout against David Benavidez.
The two-time undisputed heavyweight champion has not fought since a stoppage win over Rico Verhoeven in May in Egypt. Usyk, 39, holds multiple wins over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois. He recently revealed he currently weighs 212lb and has already started cutting weight.
Usyk's decision to move down
Speaking on Saturday night, Usyk explained his reasoning: “I cleaned out heavyweight and now I’ll go back to my weight. Now [I weigh] 96/97kg. Today there is change at heavyweight, if I have an opportunity at cruiserweight, I’m back. It’s a big fight because Benavidez is a big champion. When I have an opportunity, I take this opportunity. This is life.”
Usyk had been tipped to face former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder next, but has now set his sights on 29-year-old undefeated David Benavidez, the unified champion.
Team confirms 2027 plan
Usyk's team director Sergey Lapin confirmed the plan is for the Ukrainian to fight for a vacant world title before facing WBA and WBO titleholder Benavidez and becoming an undisputed king at 200lb for a second time.
“Oleksandr aims to return to cruiserweight in 2027 and become undisputed again,” Lapin told Casinostugan. “First, we are looking at a fight for a vacant world title. Then, the goal is to face David Benavidez to unify all the belts and become undisputed cruiserweight champion.”
“We see 2027 as the final chapter of his career. He wants to finish as undisputed champion in the division where he first won all the belts. If we’re going to do this, we need to take a comprehensive approach. The first fight for a world title, the second for the undisputed championship.”
“Usyk has never been a natural heavyweight. Cruiserweight is his home. He loves a challenge, so he moved up, cleaned out the heavyweight division, and now he is coming home to restore order.”
