Oleksandr Usyk vs David Benavidez might be a reality for 2027, and it would see Usyk moving back down to cruiserweight, not Benavidez going up to heavyweight.
But the former undisputed cruiserweight king would rather face Benavidez (32-0, 26 KO) at cruiserweight, because he’d like to go undisputed at that weight a second time, matching what he’s done as a heavyweight.
Usyk (25-0, 16 KO) vacated all of the heavyweight titles this year, and his only fight for 2026 is going to wind up being a sort of curious novelty bout where he stopped kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven in the 11th round, after 10 rounds of struggle that left several questions.
It’s entirely possible this would wait until the late summer or early fall of 2027. Usyk’s birthday is in January, so he’ll be 40 if and when this fight does take place, whether it’s that late into next year or earlier.
Will Usyk vs Benavidez happen, and do you like the idea? Let us know down in the comments section, and even if you’re on the go, you can join the conversation with the SB Nation app for iOS or Android!