Usyk wants to fight Benavidez at his best, according to Lapin. He also wants to be undisputed at cruiserweight champ once again.A Benavidez fight would also require Usyk to leapfrog Jai Opetaia, The Ring cruiserweight champ.Benavidez has since laid out a three-fight plan at cruiserweight that includes Opetaia, Artur Beterbiev and Usyk, and said the Usyk fight could happen at either cruiserweight or heavyweight.
The wild card is whether Usyk, who turns 40 in January, is willing to wait. A cruiserweight return in the first half of 2027 would almost certainly have to come before Benavidez-Opetaia, not after it.