Usyk Camp Eyes Cruiserweight Return for Benavidez Fight

Oleksandr Usyk wants to go back down to cruiserweight and fight David Benavidez, according to a report from Mike Coppinger of The Ring. The word comes from Serhii Lapin, an adviser to the Ukrainian. Coppinger says Usyk wants to meet Benavidez at his best and wants to be undisputed at cruiserweight once again.

The next fight for Usyk has not been confirmed. A bout with Benavidez is described as an ambitious goal, not a signed deal. Usyk would be stepping down to 200 pounds after a long reign at heavyweight.

Benavidez has business first

Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs), from Phoenix, Arizona, holds the unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles. He is scheduled to face WBC titleholder Michal Cieslak (28-2, 22 KOs) on December 5 in Glendale, Arizona. Three cruiserweight belts are on the line in that fight. Benavidez has to handle that business first.

He spent years chasing Canelo Alvarez without ever getting that fight. Usyk's camp is now targeting him, and the fight would take place at cruiserweight, not heavyweight. Benavidez would face a 39-year-old who has been away from the division for almost eight years.

The division's IBF title is vacant. Jai Opetaia was stripped of the belt ahead of his fight with Brandon Glanton in March.

A long way back to 200 pounds

Usyk is 39 and turns 40 in January. He last fought at cruiserweight in November 2018, when he knocked out Tony Bellew in the eighth round and kept his undisputed title at 200 pounds. He has spent the time since in the heavyweight division.

He remains the only undisputed cruiserweight champion of the four-belt era. He held the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles at the same time.

Source: Boxing News 24