Oleksandr Usyk Eyes Cruiserweight Return for 'Final Chapter' Against David Benavidez
The former undisputed heavyweight champion's adviser reveals plans for a return to his dominant division before retirement.
Heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk is reportedly planning a return to the cruiserweight division for what his adviser, Sergey Lapin, calls the "final chapter" of his career. Usyk, who last fought in May, is aiming to become undisputed champion in the cruiserweight division once again before retiring from the sport.
According to Lapin, Usyk's plan for 2027 involves first fighting for a vacant world title at cruiserweight. Following that, the ultimate goal is to face undefeated American boxer David Benavidez in a unification bout to claim all the belts. "We see 2027 as the final chapter of his career," Lapin stated. "He wants to finish as undisputed champion in the division where he first won all the belts."
Usyk, 39, previously dominated the cruiserweight division, winning 16 fights and holding all major titles before moving up to heavyweight in 2019. In the heavyweight division, he also achieved undisputed status, defeating notable opponents such as Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois multiple times. His undefeated record currently stands at 25 fights.
Benavidez, 29, boasts an undefeated professional record of 32 wins. He currently holds the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles and is slated to fight Michal Cieslak for the WBC belt on December 5. The IBF belt in the cruiserweight division became vacant in March when Jai Opetaia was stripped of the title. The potential matchup between Usyk and Benavidez would be for undisputed status in the division where Usyk first achieved this feat.