Oleksandr Usyk is officially making his cruiserweight return next year, and he’s got one name on his mind: David Benavidez. This isn’t just some casual move, folks. Usyk, fresh off cleaning out the heavyweight division, is coming back to his natural weight class with a purpose, and he’s not messing around.
Usyk’s Cruiserweight Comeback Is Locked In
During a segment with Mike Coppinger on yesterday’s DAZN broadcast for the Canelo Alvarez vs. Chrisitian Mbilli event, Usyk confirmed it himself. He’s heading back to cruiserweight in the coming year for a showdown with Benavidez. Why? He laid it out plain: “Because I cleaned up the heavyweight [division] and back my weight.” Simple as that. The man is currently weighing in at 96-97 kg, which is right in that cruiserweight sweet spot. He wants Benavidez at that weight too, making sure there are “no excuses.” Usyk calls it a “big fight” because, as he put it, “Benavidez is a big champion. Me, a little bit, too.” Talk about a humble heavyweight champ ready to take on the next big challenge.
Vacating Titles For The Baddest Fights
It’s clear Usyk isn’t interested in holding onto titles just for the sake of it. He’s already vacated his heavyweight belts to “freely pursue the biggest prizefights.” That tells you everything you need to know about his mindset: he’s hunting for legacy-defining matchups. “Listen, when I have opportunity, I take this opportunity. This is life,” he said, and you can’t argue with that.
Beyond his own huge plans, Usyk also had shout-outs for other boxing legends. He wished his good friend Vasiliy Lomachenko well in his return to the sport, expressing his belief that “Vasiliy will take undisputed.” And he’s just as pumped as the rest of us for the long-awaited Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight. Usyk views it as a “50/50” toss-up, noting that “a lot of fans wait this fight 10 years” because it’s “two big stars in the UK.” He wants to watch it, too, to see “only one king of UK.”
The boxing world just got a jolt of pure adrenaline with Usyk’s announcement. We’re talking about a guy who cleans up divisions and then looks for the next challenge. With Benavidez on the horizon, and huge fights like Fury-Joshua and Lomachenko’s undisputed run coming up, next year is already looking absolutely insane for boxing fans. Get ready, because it’s going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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