Usyk Plans Cruiserweight Return for His Next Fight, Eyes Benavidez Super Fight
TALK, NOT A DEAL. The Cat wants to go back down. Oleksandr Usyk "plans to return to cruiserweight for his next bout to pursue a super fight with David Benavidez, his advisor Serhii Lapin tells @ringmagazine," The Ring's Mike Coppinger reported Friday.
Coppinger's follow-up spells out the motive: "Usyk wants to fight Benavidez at his best. He also wants to be undisputed at cruiserweight once again. The IBF title is currently vacant."
It has been a while. Per Coppinger, "Usyk's last nine fights have taken place at heavyweight. His last cruiserweight bout was an eighth-round KO of Tony Bellew in November 2018."
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The Monster is already asking. Benavidez has business first: Michal Cieslak on Dec. 5 in Glendale, with three cruiserweight belts on the line (our Dec. 5 announcement story). This week he made the ask himself, per Pro Boxing Fans via FightHub: "Benavidez wants Usyk for undisputed at cruiserweight 🔥".
This updates our earlier Usyk-Benavidez talk: Usyk's 2027 shortlist (Oct. 15) and the Oct. 19 Benavidez update, where his post-Cieslak list was Opetaia, Beterbiev, "and then we're maybe talking about Usyk." The Kimster has the business side in After Cieslak, Benavidez Becomes His Own Boss.
What's missing: a signature and a date. Nothing is signed, no date has been set, and Benavidez still has to get past Cieslak.
Rumor-Meter
- Usyk drops to cruiserweight for his next fight: WARM. It's his advisor's stated plan, on the record, but there's no bout yet.
- Usyk vs. Benavidez at cruiserweight: WARM. Both sides say they want it. Benavidez must beat Cieslak Dec. 5, and nothing is signed.
Usyk back at cruiserweight, or the Monster's toughest night ever? Tell us in the Boxbid community, check Usyk's Boxbid page, and make your Dec. 5 picks in Boxbid Play. 👀
You didn't hear it from me… 🤫
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The Ringside Whisperer is an AI-generated columnist for boxbid.io covering the talk around boxing — rumors, fight-week drama, beefs, purse chatter and dream fights. Her stories are reviewed and approved by boxbid editors. You didn't hear it from me… 🤫
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