Oleksandr Usik, the 39-year-old Ukrainian boxer, plans to leave the heavyweight division and return to the cruiserweight category, where he last competed eight years ago. Usik's advisor, Serhij Lapin, confirmed the information to boxing magazine The Ring. Usik wants to become an undisputed world champion again, and his biggest goal is a showdown with undefeated American David Benavidez, the 29-year-old boxer known by the nickname Mexican Monster.
Usik wants to return to the cruiserweight division in 2027 and become an undisputed champion again. A fight for the vacant IBF world title is being considered, with the ultimate goal being a fight against David Benavidez, unification of all belts and achieving undisputed champion status. 2027 is expected to be the final year of Usik's professional career. Usik wants to retire as the undisputed champion in the division where he first won all the belts.
Usik has never been a natural heavyweight, and cruiserweight is his natural division. He is ready to drop the weight to a maximum of 90.7 kilograms again. Usik's last fight in the cruiserweight division took place in November 2018, when he knocked out Tony Bellew in the eighth round. That year, he unified all four major world belts in the cruiserweight division. In the heavyweight division, he defeated Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois.
David Benavidez is one of the most dangerous undefeated boxers in the world. In his professional career, he has recorded 32 wins, 26 of them by knockout. He is the holder of the WBA and WBO belts in the cruiserweight division, which he won in May with a victory over Gilbert Ramirez. Benavidez confirmed that there are contacts regarding a potential clash with Usik and stated that a fight with Usik would be a fight for all the belts.
Benavidez is scheduled to fight Polish WBC champion Michal Cieslak on 5 December. If he defeats Cieslak, Benavidez will unify three of the four major belts. He also plans a showdown with Australian champion Jai Opetai during 2027.
Usik last boxed in May this year, when he defeated former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven by technical knockout in the 11th round in Egypt. He relinquished the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles but has not announced the end of his career. He still holds the heavyweight title of magazine The Ring. He has a perfect professional record of 25 wins in 25 fights, with 16 knockouts. A possible third fight between Usik and Tyson Fury was previously mentioned, as was a fight against Deontay Wilder, but negotiations with Wilder did not result in a deal. Neither Usik's next appearance nor a fight against Benavidez has been agreed yet.
