Usyk eyes ‘final chapter’ at cruiserweight against Benavidez
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.
In short
- 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.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A return to cruiserweight could give Usyk a meaningful final challenge in the division where he first became undisputed, and a chance to retire with that achievement again. If Benavidez continues to collect the belts, a fight between two unbeaten champions could be a fitting conclusion to Usyk’s career and a major contest for boxing fans.
The case against
At 39, Usyk would be taking on a demanding campaign: first winning a vacant title, then trying to unify against an unbeaten, younger Benavidez. The plan depends on several bouts and title changes lining up, so it may be more prudent for Usyk to prioritise his health and legacy rather than risk a difficult final run for another undisputed crown.
Explained simply
Boxing’s four main world title belts are awarded by separate organisations, so a fighter is called undisputed when they hold all four in a weight division. Cruiserweight is below heavyweight, and Oleksandr Usyk became undisputed there before moving up to heavyweight in 2019.
Usyk is an unbeaten Ukrainian boxer who has won world titles in both divisions. David Benavidez is an unbeaten American boxer who has moved into cruiserweight and holds two of its major belts; the other titles are held or contested separately.
A return to cruiserweight would put Usyk back in the division where he first held all four belts. Unifying the titles with Benavidez would depend on the vacant and remaining belts being won and on the fighters agreeing to meet.