David Benavidez Wants Usyk at Cruiserweight for Undisputed Shot

David Benavidez says the talks have already happened. The 32-0 (26 KO) WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion told Fight Hub TV that his camp has been in contact with Oleksandr Usyk about luring the Ukrainian back down to 200lbs — a move that would give the 39-year-old the chance to become undisputed cruiserweight king for the second time in his career.

It's a bold pitch, and Benavidez isn't shy about why. Usyk, 25-0 (16 KO), currently holds the lineal heavyweight crown but no actual belts, having vacated all three following his 11th-round stoppage of Rico Verhoeven in May. Benavidez argued that a fight at cruiserweight carries more weight than one at heavyweight precisely because there's hardware on the line down there — and added that if the Usyk side prefers heavyweight, he doesn't particularly care either way.

The Belts Problem

Here's the catch: Benavidez isn't undisputed yet. He became a three-division champion by stopping Gilberto Ramírez in six rounds in May, but the WBC strap belongs to Michal Cieslak, whom Benavidez meets on December 5. Clear that hurdle and the plan points toward Jai Opetaia on Cinco de Mayo weekend in 2027.

Opetaia, 30-0 (23 KO), is the lineal cruiserweight champion and the real complication. He's pursuing a lawsuit against the IBF that, if successful, could see him reinstated as that body's belt-holder. Until that resolves, 'undisputed' at 200lbs is a moving target — which makes selling Usyk on the idea trickier than Benavidez's confidence suggests.

Where This Leaves Usyk

For a while the exit tour looked set to end against Deontay Wilder, 45-4-1 (43 KO), but that pairing has quietly fallen apart with both men chasing other options. Usyk has said he likely has one fight left before retirement, so whatever he signs next carries real stakes — this is almost certainly the last dance.

A drop to cruiserweight for a legacy-defining finale is a tidy narrative, and Usyk owns that division's recent history better than anyone. But the plumbing has to line up first: Benavidez past Cieslak, the Opetaia situation sorted, and an undisputed billing that actually means what the word says. Right now it's a conversation, not a contract.