Oleksandr Usyk seems able to return to cruiserweight for what he referred to as "an enormous battle" in opposition to the present WBA and WBO unified world champion David Benavidez.
A former undisputed champion at 200 kilos, Usyk cleared out the division in a earlier period, beating Murat Gassiev, Mairis Briedis and Tony Bellew, amongst different cruiserweights.
That was in 2018.
The next yr, he moved as much as heavyweight and have become an undisputed champion in that division as nicely in 2024, lapping the competitors by beating Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua twice every.
Throughout Usyk's stint at heavyweight, David Benavidez infiltrated n due to his successes from tremendous middleweight to cruiserweight, most lately t in his final bout.
"We have now spoken to Usyk about [him] coming all the way down to cruiserweight," Benavidez advised b on Wednesday. "It will be for undisputed [championship status], clearly."
On Saturday, ringside in Riyadh for i, Usyk made his resolution official.
"I cleaned heavyweight [out] and am again at my weight," he mentioned on the DAZN broadcast, lifting his shirt to indicate his stomach muscle mass, whereas saying he's at present strolling round at 96 or 97 kilograms (211.5 to 213.5 kilos).
In opposition to the kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, y, Usyk weighed 233 kilos — the heaviest he'd ever been, even at heavyweight. Benavidez weighed 197 kilos the day earlier than he beat "Zurdo" Ramirez earlier this yr.
On Benavidez as a potential opponent, Usyk mentioned: "At cruiserweight if I’ve [an] alternative, I wager, it’s a massive battle as a result of Benavidez is an enormous champion. Me, somewhat bit too."
Benavidez is first scheduled to face WBC champion Michal Cieslak in a three-belt unification bout on Dec. 5.
The IBF championship is at present vacant, that means both Benavidez or Usyk would wish to win it for a battle between them to be for the undisputed title.
