Oleksandr Usyk is planning one final campaign in boxing by returning to cruiserweight in 2027, with a possible undisputed title fight against David Benavidez, according to his adviser Sergey Lapin.
The 39-year-old Ukrainian, a former undisputed heavyweight champion, had been expected to stage his final fight at heavyweight after saying he wanted a “last dance” in the sport.
However, Lapin says Usyk now intends to move down a division and compete for a vacant cruiserweight world title before pursuing a unification bout with undefeated American Benavidez.
“Oleksandr aims to return to cruiserweight in 2027 and become undisputed again,” Lapin said.
“First, we are looking at a fight for a vacant world title. Then, the goal is to face David Benavidez to unify all the belts and become undisputed cruiserweight champion.”
Usyk has not fought since May, when he recorded a gritty victory over Rico Verhoeven before vacating his heavyweight titles.
Lapin says the Ukrainian views 2027 as the closing stage of his career and wants to end it by reclaiming the undisputed status he previously achieved at cruiserweight.
“We see 2027 as the final chapter of his career,” he said. “He wants to finish as undisputed champion in the division where he first won all the belts.”
Usyk spent the majority of his career at cruiserweight, where he won 16 fights and became the undisputed champion.
He moved up to heavyweight in 2019 and went on to become the undisputed champion in that division before relinquishing his titles following his most recent fight.
A return to cruiserweight would therefore give Usyk the opportunity to pursue undisputed status in the weight class where he first established himself as a world champion.
Lapin’s comments indicate that the proposed route would begin with a fight for a vacant world title, followed by an attempt to unify the division against Benavidez.
The final chapter of Usyk’s career is now expected to take place at cruiserweight rather than heavyweight, with 2027 identified as the intended timeframe for his return.
