Usyk's Benavidez Pursuit Proves His Thirst For Legacy

Oleksandr Usyk is returning to cruiserweight to chase history one more time.

The two-time undisputed heavyweight champion revealed this week that he will drop back down to 200 pounds to face undefeated David Benavidez for a world title, The Ring reports. At 39, Usyk could have picked easier fights — a faded Deontay Wilder, a third crack at Tyson Fury, a rematch with Rico Verhoeven. Instead, he chose the most dangerous option.

What Usyk's Move Means for Boxing History

Nobody has ever won a heavyweight title and then dropped back to cruiserweight for another belt. Usyk already unified all four straps at cruiserweight before conquering the heavyweight division over the last eight years. Now he is targeting a feat that would separate him from Evander Holyfield, David Haye, and every other fighter who made the jump between divisions.

The closest parallel is Roy Jones Jr., who moved from light heavyweight to heavyweight in 2003 to beat John Ruiz, then dropped back down eight months later. But Jones weighed 193 pounds against Ruiz and never established himself as a true heavyweight. Usyk has beaten Fury twice, soundly defeated Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, and weighed 233 pounds in his most recent fight. This is a full-scale return after eight years at the top.

His decision to vacate the Ring heavyweight title will also break the lineal championship. Usyk became the man who beat the man when he stopped Fury in May 2024. Should he officially move to cruiserweight, a scramble among Daniel Dubois, WBC champion Agit Kabayel, Fury, and Filip Hrgovic will determine the next lineal king. Promoter Frank Warren has promised unifications in 2027 that could settle the question.

Usyk faces Benavidez at a date yet to be confirmed, with the winner claiming a piece of boxing history no one else can touch.

Source: ringmagazine.com