Cruiserweight · Before the fight · First reported: 30 Oct, 16:58 · Boxing News
Oleksandr Usyk announces return to cruiserweight to face David Benavidez
Oleksandr Usyk confirmed his intention to return to cruiserweight in 2027 to face WBA and WBO champion David Benavidez. The Ukrainian fighter vacated his heavyweight titles after an 11th-round stoppage victory over Rico Verhoeven in May. Sources diverge on the weight class: some report cruiserweight, others heavyweight.
American and British press emphasize Usyk's return to cruiserweight as 'final chapter', while a Ukrainian source reports Usyk wants the match at heavyweight.
Neutral summary generated from the sources below. No article is reproduced: headline, one line and link.
14
sources
9
countries
4
angles
Every angle · affiliations are declared on the Sources page
US press
3 sources
Oleksandr Usyk confirms David Benavidez fight is on the table
BoxingScene · US · promotional
Deontay Wilder in talks to face Murat Gassiev after Oleksandr Usyk plans collapse
BoxingScene · US · promotional
Report: Oleksandr Usyk planning fight with David Benavidez at cruiserweight
Bad Left Hook · US
+4 more sources
British press
2 sources
Usyk eyes 'final chapter' at cruiserweight against Benavidez
BBC Sport · GB
Unified champion tells Lomachenko 'take a tune up before you fight me': "I don't want no excuses"
Boxing News · GB · polemical · first reported
David Benavidez sums up Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez's chances of beating Naoya Inoue at 122lbs
Boxing News · GB
Oleksandr Usyk targets undefeated champion for final fight as move away from heavyweight confirmed
Boxing News · GB
+5 more sources
Italian press · celebratory
2 sources
Champion Oleksandr Usyk willing to move down to cruiserweight to face Benavidez
BoxeRingWeb · IT · celebratory
original: Il campionissimo Olexander Usyk disposto a scendere tra i massimi leggeri per affrontare Benavidez
Deontay Wilder has a new target: WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev!
BoxeRingWeb · IT · promotional
original: Deontay Wilder ha un nuovo obiettivo : Il campione dei massimi WBA Murat Gassiev !
Oleksandr Usyk wants to return to cruiserweight
The Shield of Sports · IT
original: Oleksandr Usyk vuole tornare nei pesi cruiser
Independent
7 sources
Usyk already writes his 'final chapter': will return to cruiserweight to face the most feared boxer
Marca · ES · promotional
original: Usyk ya escribe su "capítulo final": regresará al peso crucero para enfrentarse al boxeador más temido
Usyk considering cruiserweight return 'to make history again'
Sky Sports Boxing · GB
Usyk plans fight with Benavídez in heavyweight: The Ring
vRINGe · UA
original: Усик планирует бой с Бенавидесом в первом тяжёлом весе: The Ring
Usyk on fight with Benavidez: "Now I will return to my weight"
vRINGe · UA
original: Усик о бое с Бенавидесом: «Теперь я вернусь в свой вес»
+11 more sources
Who is not covering it
ESPN Boxing, Gazzetta dello Sport, L'Équipe, Sky Sport, The Ring, The Guardian, Boxing News Japan, Corriere dello Sport. Outlets expected by weight and country that have not written about it.
Who reported it first
30 Oct · 16:58
Boxing News: Unified champion tells Lomachenko 'take a tune up before you fight me': "I don't want no excuses"
30 Oct · 21:00
Boxing News: David Benavidez sums up Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez's chances of beating Naoya Inoue at 122lbs
30 Oct · 21:20
FightNews: Sergey Lapin: "Usyk To Return To Cruiserweight"
30 Oct · 22:06
BoxeRingWeb: Champion Oleksandr Usyk willing to move down to cruiserweight to face Benavidez
30 Oct · 22:07
Championat: Usyk's team revealed who Alexander plans to fight for his boxing farewell
30 Oct · 22:08
Boxen1: Return to cruiserweight? Usyk wants mega-fight with Benavidez!
30 Oct · 22:15
Boxing News: Oleksandr Usyk targets undefeated champion for final fight as move away from heavyweight confirmed
30 Oct · 23:31
BoxingScene: Oleksandr Usyk's plan: 'Coming home' to cruiserweight, then David Benavidez