Oleksandr Usyk wants cruiserweight return for David Benavidez fight

Usyk says he now weighs 96 to 97kg and would take the chance to move down, while Benavidez must first face WBC champion Michal Cieslak in December.

Oleksandr Usyk wants to drop back down to cruiserweight to fight unified champion David Benavidez, confirming his plan on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli broadcast.

The move would take Usyk, who is approaching the final stages of his career, away from the division where he twice became undisputed heavyweight champion and beat each of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois more than once. He said: “I cleaned out heavyweight and now I’ll go back to my weight.” Usyk put his current weight at 96 to 97kg and said the match-up would depend on the chance coming his way. He said: “Today there is change at heavyweight, if I have an opportunity at cruiserweight, I’m back.” Of Benavidez, he added: “It’s a big fight because Benavidez is a big champion.” Cruiserweight has always been seen as Usyk's more natural division. He became undisputed champion there before moving up, with wins over Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev and Tony Bellew.

Benavidez won world titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight before moving up to 200lbs in May, when he stopped Gilberto Ramirez inside six rounds to take the WBA and WBO cruiserweight belts.

He faces Cieslak for the WBC title in December. A win could set up the Usyk fight, although a bout with Jai Opetaia is also a possibility.

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