Oleksandr Usyk is plotting a return to the cruiserweight division in 2027, with WBA and WBO champion David Benavidez mooted as a potential opponent.
After conquering the 200lbs division, and moving up to heavyweight to twice become an undisputed champion on two occasions, Usyk is keen to return to cruiserweight to become undisputed at that weight for a second time.
The Ukrainian's advisor, Sergey Lapin, revealed that the initial plan is for the 39-year-old to drop back down in weight to fight for the vacant IBF strap, before locking horns with Benavidez for the undisputed status -- providing that the American comes through his bout with Michal Cieslak to unify the WBA, WBO and WBC belts.
Lapin reaffirmed that 2027 is viewed as the last chapter for Usyk -- who is already viewed as an all-time great -- and what better way to sign off than becoming undisputed in a division where he first made his mark?
We take a look at how the legendary boxing figure can make more history by becoming undisputed for a second time at 200lbs.
There remains obstacles to overcome if Usyk is to reclaim the four major cruiserweight belts.
First, he'd need to come out on top in a clash for the IBF title, in which his potential opponent remains unidentified. Then, assuming Benavidez defeats Cieslak, he would be tasked with overcoming an unbeaten three-division champion who is 10 years younger than the Ukrainian to attain undisputed status.
If he is to achieve the preceding, he would further etch his name into the boxing history books.
By unifying all four belts at 200lbs, he would become the first two-time undisputed cruiserweight champion in boxing history.
Evander Holyfield and O'Neil Bell were the first two cruiserweights to become undisputed in the three-belt era, while Usyk became the first to do so in the four-belt era when defeating Murat Gassiev in July 2018.
Usyk also became just the second two-time undisputed heavyweight champion since the start of the WBA–WBC era, after Muhammad Ali, and so to do replicate this success in the cruiserweight division would be remarkable, and something nobody has ever done before.
Should Usyk win the four major belts at cruiserweight in what could be his final active year in professional boxing, he would also become the first boxer in history to earn undisputed status at 200lbs, move up to the heavyweight division and clinch the WBA, WBO, WBC and IBF titles, and then move back to cruiserweight and replicate his undisputed success.
Usyk is already regarded by most, if not all, as one of the greatest boxers of his generation, and victory over Benavidez to conquer the cruiserweight division for a second time would no doubt put him in even bigger conversations.
