Undefeated American boxer David Benavidez (32-0, 25 KOs), the reigning WBA and WBO super middleweight champion, has revealed details of negotiations with Oleksandr Usyk's camp. According to the American, he personally discussed the scenario of their face-off with the Ukrainian's team. This was reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing Benavidez’s interview on journalist Brian Custer’s YouTube channel.

Usyk’s Return to Cruiserweight as the Key to the Undisputed Title

The main intrigue of the potential bout lies in the weight category. As Benavidez explained, Usyk currently holds no active titles in the heavyweight division: he is the lineal champion, but he has officially vacated all his belts. This is precisely why the Ukrainian's return to cruiserweight opens up the possibility of organizing a fight for all four championship belts at once. A victory would allow Usyk to become the undisputed world champion in this weight class for the second time in his career.

“I Don’t Care At All, I Just Want to Fight the Best”

The American emphasized that the weight category does not matter to him. “We discussed Usyk returning to cruiserweight with him. If it were a fight for the undisputed championship… Right now, he doesn't have belts at heavyweight. He's the lineal champion, but he has no belts. He vacated them all. So I think a fight like that would carry more weight. Of course, a heavyweight bout would also be a massive event, but there's a deeper story here — because this fight could be for all four belts. If they want me to move up in weight class, I honestly don't care. I just want to fight the best,” Benavidez stated.

Beating Usyk Will Cement the American’s Name in History

Benavidez is convinced that a bout with the undefeated Ukrainian will be the defining moment of his career, and a victory will firmly secure his place in boxing history. “I’m going to train as if my life depends on it. In my opinion, Usyk has even more achievements than Canelo. Once I beat him, nobody will be able to deny my place in history,” the American added, putting Usyk on par with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez as one of the defining rivals of the decade.

Timeline: From Title Defense to a Potential Mega-Fight

According to available data, the high-profile bout between Usyk and Benavidez could tentatively take place in 2027. The American's immediate next step will be defending his titles: on December 5, 2026, in Phoenix, USA, Benavidez will face WBC champion Michal Cieslak. Recall that earlier Usyk, along with Canelo Alvarez, arrived in Riyadh for a championship bout under the Riyadh Season banner, which further fueled interest in future heavyweight and cruiserweight bouts.