Photo: EPA
Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs) has confirmed that he intends to move down from heavyweight to cruiserweight and potentially fight the division’s biggest star.
“I’ve already dealt with heavyweight, and I’m returning to my weight class. If I have the opportunity to return to cruiserweight, I will. It would be a big fight because Benavidez is a great champion. And I’m a little bit of one myself,” Usyk told journalist Mike Coppinger.
The 39-year-old Ukrainian previously became undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018 after defeating Russia’s Murat Gassiev. He later defended his titles by beating Tony Bellew before moving up to heavyweight, where he twice became undisputed champion.
American David Benavidez remains undefeated as a professional, with 32 wins, including 26 by knockout. On December 5, he is scheduled to fight Poland’s Michał Cieślak in Arizona for the WBC and WBO titles.
