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Oleksandr Usyk plans cruiserweight return for David Benavidez super fight, says adviser

Usyk, whose last nine fights have been at heavyweight, also wants to become undisputed cruiserweight champion again, and the IBF title is currently vacant.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published · AI-assisted reporting
Oleksandr Usyk and David Benavidez at press conferences
Photo: Khaled Desouki/AFP; Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy via Getty Images

Oleksandr Usyk plans to return to cruiserweight for his next fight to pursue a super fight with David Benavidez, his adviser Serhii Lapin told The Ring.

According to Lapin, Usyk wants to fight Benavidez at his best and wants to be undisputed cruiserweight champion once again. The IBF cruiserweight title is currently vacant.

The former undisputed cruiserweight champion is The Ring heavyweight champion, and his last nine fights have taken place at heavyweight. His last cruiserweight bout was an eighth-round knockout of Tony Bellew in November 2018.

Benavidez fights Michal Cieslak on 5 December to unify three cruiserweight titles. David Benavidez next fight: Michal Cieslak unification set for 5 December

Speaking in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Benavidez said a fight with Usyk had been discussed. "We have spoken to Usyk about coming down to cruiserweight. It would be for undisputed, obviously," he said.

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Oleksandr Usyk
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About this report

Reported by the Combat Sports UK desk. Times are UK and Irish time, and we update the report when the facts change. How we work.