# Usyk eyes ‘final chapter’ at cruiserweight against Benavidez

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/usyk-eyes-final-chapter-at-cruiserweight-against-benavidez/
- Published: 2026-10-31T18:11:22+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-31T20:26:07+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Sport (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/articles/crpdg3qwjg4eo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Sport

## Key points

- Usyk is targeting a cruiserweight return in 2027.
- He hopes to fight Benavidez after pursuing a vacant title.
- The plan is to finish his career as undisputed champion.

## Summary

Oleksandr Usyk is planning to return to cruiserweight in 2027 and fight David Benavidez before retiring, according to his adviser Sergey Lapin. The proposed move would give Usyk a chance to end his career as an undisputed champion in the division where he first achieved that status.

Lapin says Usyk would first pursue a vacant world title, then aim to unify the belts against Benavidez. Usyk, 39, has won all 25 of his professional fights and was undisputed at cruiserweight before moving to heavyweight in 2019. Benavidez, 29, is unbeaten in 32 bouts and holds the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles; he is due to fight Michal Cieslak for the WBC belt on 5 December, while the IBF title is vacant.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.