Billam-Smith opens up on Usyk fight path and Wilder’s next move.

Chris Billam-Smith versus Oleksandr Usyk?

'Not next... Maybe if he beats David Benavidez and I beat Jai Opetaia!'

That is the scenario the former WBO cruiserweight world champion laid out in a recent interview with Sky Sports.

Billam-Smith is currently preparing for his own fight against Cheavon Clarke, which airs live on Sky Sports this Saturday.

But his eyes are fixed on a much bigger prize down the road.

The chain reaction starts with Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk, the 39-year-old Ukrainian legend, has confirmed he plans to return to the cruiserweight division before the end of his career.

He was an undisputed world champion at cruiserweight before moving up to heavyweight, where he repeated that feat twice over.

Usyk has beaten Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Daniel Dubois among others at heavyweight.

His team revealed the potential move back down to 200 pounds after he defeated Rico Verhoeven in May.

Usyk himself confirmed the plan during Canelo Alvarez's return to the ring in Riyadh last weekend.

'I cleaned the heavyweight and make my weight,' Usyk told Mike Coppinger live on DAZN PPV.

'It's a big fight because Benavidez is a big champion.

Me, a little bit, too.'

The target is David Benavidez, the current WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion.

Benavidez is undefeated and considered one of the pound-for-pound best in the sport.

A fight between Usyk and Benavidez would bring together two undefeated stars from different weight divisions.

Usyk has not fought since May, but he is expected to go straight into a Benavidez showdown.

Billam-Smith believes that is exactly what will happen.

'I think the level he's been and the level he's at in terms of marketable fights, I think he'd go straight into a Benavidez fight, especially at his age now,' Billam-Smith said.

He added with a laugh: 'I think taking interim fight, especially dangerous ones, against me, he doesn't need to be doing.'

If Benavidez boxes Usyk, that means he will not be fighting Jai Opetaia next.

Opetaia is another elite cruiserweight who currently holds the IBF title.

He is scheduled to face former heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder on December 11.

That fight is part of the Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua undercard in Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

Opetaia, 31, is stepping up to heavyweight for that clash after defeating Brandon Glanton and Norair Mikaeljan earlier this year.

Wilder enters the contest following a split-decision victory over Derek Chisora.

Opetaia's promoter Dana White acknowledged the risks involved in the matchup.

'It's a very dangerous fight for him considering where he sits in his division right now,' White told Sky Sports.

After the Wilder fight, Opetaia is expected to return to cruiserweight.

And that is where Billam-Smith sees his opening.

'That definitely seems more doable now,' Billam-Smith said.

'I'm happy about that, because I think Benavidez would beat him and I always wanted to be the first man to beat Opetaia.'

Billam-Smith was the WBO cruiserweight champion before losing the belt.

He now wants to climb back to the top of the division.

A win against Cheavon Clarke on Saturday would keep him on track.

Win that and it could be Opetaia next.

Win that and he would be right at the summit of the division.

Then why could not an Usyk fight happen?

Billam-Smith laid out the dream scenario: 'Not next, maybe if he beats Benavidez, I beat Opetaia, that's a nice little southpaw showdown.'

He acknowledged that Usyk's return to cruiserweight affects his own ranking.

'Probably it's fair to say it knocks me down a spot in the world rankings!' he told Sky Sports.

'But it's also great for the division, a huge name for the division that really probably has been the face of boxing, definitely in terms of achievement.'

Johnny Nelson, who held the WBO cruiserweight world title for a record six-and-a-half years, also weighed in on Usyk's potential return.

Speaking to talkSPORT Boxing, Nelson said he believes Usyk can dominate at 200 pounds again.

'He got in the ring [at the Canelo-Mbilli fight] and showed his six-pack and I thought, "he can do the weight well,"' Nelson said.

'For him to dominate cruiserweight, dominate heavyweight and then go back down to cruiserweight and dominate, which he can do, I think is history-making.

'It is not just Benavidez, there is Jai Opetaia there – then walk away.'

Nelson also explained the business side of Usyk's decision.

'I understand why he is doing it, he is doing it because he wants to make money,' Nelson said.