Oleksandr Usyk is set for a potential return to the cruiserweight division to fight David Benavidez, and now the cruiserweight divisions’s longest-reigning world champion has offered his thoughts on those reports.
Usyk underwhelmed against Rico Verhoeven back in May and relinquished his unified heavyweight world title soon after, revealing that he will have one ‘farewell fight’ and then hang up the gloves for good.
In the months that followed, it was understood that former WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder would be the 39-year-old’s final dance partner, until talks with the American collapsed.
Usyk has now confirmed that his fighter is targeting a cruiserweight showdown with pound-for-pound star Benavidez, in a bid to regain the undisputed cruiserweight crown.
Speaking to talkSPORT Boxing, Johnny Nelson, who held the WBO cruiserweight world title for a record six-and-a-half years, believes that Usyk has what it takes to dominate at 200lbs again.
“He got in the ring [at the Canelo-Mbilli fight] and showed his six-pack and I thought, ‘he can do the weight well.’
“For him to dominate cruiserweight, dominate heavyweight and then go back down to cruiserweight and dominate, which he can do, I think is history-making. It is not just Benavidez, there is Jai Opetaia there – then walk away.
“I understand why he is doing it, he is doing it because he wants to make money. Even though he is the best heavyweight in the world, he has not made as much money as [Tyson] Fury or AJ [Anthony Joshua].
“So, he wants the money fights, high-risk, low-reward in regards to fighting the guys that haven’t got titles like his last fight [against Rico Verhoeven], which he nearly lost. So I totally get it, it is a good business move and a good historical move, as well.”
Benavidez can claim a third cruiserweight world title when he takes on Michal Cieslak next month, with the remaining IBF title currently left vacant.
