Former undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk (25-0, 16 KOs) plans to move down from the super heavyweight division to the heavyweight division and face undefeated champion David Benavidez. This was announced by the boxer’s team director, Sergey Lapin.
Lapin noted that Usyk plans to return to the heavyweight division in 2027 with the goal of becoming the undisputed champion once again. First, the team will consider the possibility of a fight for a vacant world title, and then a bout with Benavidez is planned to unify all the belts.
Usyk, who has previously held the undisputed world heavyweight title, wants to end his career as the undisputed champion in the division where he first unified all the titles. Lapin emphasized that heavyweight is Usyk’s natural division, as he was never a natural super heavyweight.
In 2018, Usyk won the undisputed world heavyweight title by defeating Russia’s Murat Gassiev, and then defended it in a fight against Tony Bellew. After that, he moved up to the super heavyweight division, where he became the undisputed champion twice.
David Benavidez, whom Usyk plans to face, has a record of 32 wins (26 by knockout) and has yet to lose a professional fight. On December 5, he will face Poland’s Michał Czeslak in Arizona for the WBC and WBO titles.
