Usyk Calls Out Benavidez as Wilder Faces Opetaia

Oleksandr Usyk has confirmed plans to return to cruiserweight for a blockbuster showdown with David Benavidez.

The Ukrainian legend revealed his intentions 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."

Usyk, 39, previously reigned as undisputed champion at cruiserweight and twice at heavyweight.

A fight against Benavidez would bring together two undefeated stars from different weight divisions.

Benavidez can claim a third cruiserweight world title when he takes on Michal Cieslak next month.

The remaining IBF title at cruiserweight is currently left vacant.

Johnny Nelson, who held the WBO cruiserweight world title for a record six-and-a-half years, believes Usyk can dominate at 200lbs 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 told talkSPORT Boxing.

"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."

Nelson added: "It is not just Benavidez, there is Jai Opetaia there – then walk away."

"I understand why he is doing it, he is doing it because he wants to make money."

"Even though he is the best heavyweight in the world, he has not made as much money as [Tyson] Fury or AJ [Anthony Joshua]."

"So, he wants the money fights, high-risk, low-reward in regards to fighting the guys that haven't got titles like his last fight [against Rico Verhoeven], which he nearly lost."

"So I totally get it, it is a good business move and a good historical move, as well."

Usyk underwhelmed against Rico Verhoeven back in May and relinquished his unified heavyweight world title soon after.

He revealed that he will have one 'farewell fight' and then hang up the gloves for good.

In the months that followed, it was understood that former WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder would be the 39-year-old's final dance partner.

But talks with the American collapsed.

Usyk has now confirmed that his target is a cruiserweight showdown with pound-for-pound star Benavidez.

Meanwhile, former heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder will face unbeaten cruiserweight star Jai Opetaia on December 11.

That fight is part of the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard in Cardiff.

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

He will now face one of boxing's most dangerous punchers at the Principality Stadium.

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

Opetaia's promoter Dana White previously 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.

Chris Billam-Smith, the former WBO cruiserweight world champion, could benefit from Usyk's plan to return to cruiserweight.

"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."

If Benavidez boxes Usyk, it means he won't be fighting Jai Opetaia next.

Opetaia would still most likely return to cruiserweight after his December clash with Deontay Wilder.

Then he will be looking for an opponent himself.

That would be Billam-Smith's opportunity.

"That definitely seems more doable now," he 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 would expect Usyk to go straight into a fight with Benavidez, even though the Ukrainian hasn't fought since beating Rico Verhoeven in May.

"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.

"I think taking interim fight, especially dangerous ones, against me, he doesn't need to be doing."