--- title: "Usyk Targets Two Blockbuster Fights in 2027: Third Bout with Fury and Benavidez Challenge" description: "According to Ring Magazine insider Mike Coppinger, Oleksandr Usyk is targeting two blockbuster fights in 2027: a potential third bout with Tyson Fury and a meeting with David Benavidez. Negotiations with Deontay Wilder have stalled." date: 2026-10-15T18:36:18.183Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/usyk-2027-plans-fury-benavidez tags: [usyk, boxing, tyson-fury, david-benavidez, heavyweight, deontay-wilder] author: "Inna Kinsheva" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Usyk Targets Two Blockbuster Fights in 2027: Third Bout with Fury and Benavidez Challenge ![Oleksandr Usyk wearing a light shirt and glasses speaking at a conference](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/15/usik-plany-na-2027-god-fyuri-benavidez/usik-plany-na-2027-god-fyuri-benavidez-1.webp) ## Key Points - Oleksandr Usyk plans to hold two blockbuster bouts in 2027 and is seeking exclusively 'big fights'. - Options include a third fight with Tyson Fury (if he defeats Joshua in December) and a bout with David Benavidez. - Negotiations for a 'last dance' with Deontay Wilder in March 2027 stalled due to financial disagreements. - In late June, Usyk voluntarily vacated the IBF, WBC, and WBA belts without retiring from boxing. Former undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is reportedly already mapping out his fight schedule for 2027 and intends to hold two truly monumental bouts during that season. This was reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing Ring Magazine insider Mike Coppinger, who claims that the 39-year-old Ukrainian boxer is purposefully seeking only the biggest challenges in the global heavyweight division. According to the source, this approach explains Usyk's recent decision to voluntarily vacate his titles: the champion is “hunting big game” and does not want to be tied down to mandatory defenses. ### Two Priority Options for 2027 Among the most realistic candidates for Usyk's next opponent, Coppinger highlights two fighters. The first is Britain's Tyson Fury, against whom the Ukrainian could face a third trilogy bout. However, this fight will only become possible if Fury defeats Anthony Joshua in Cardiff this December. The second, and according to the source, priority option is undefeated American David Benavidez, who plans to move up from cruiserweight to heavyweight and thereby secure a shot at a title fight with Usyk. ### “Last Dance” with Wilder Under Threat At the same time, a previously considered scenario — Deontay Wilder's “last dance” against Usyk in March 2027 — is now under threat of falling through. According to the publication, negotiations between the parties have stalled due to financial disagreements and an inability to agree on contract terms. Thus, out of the three discussed options, only the fight with Fury (conditional) and the bout with Benavidez remain active. ### Vacating Belts and Context of Recent Fights Usyk's decision to vacate his titles was made at the end of June: the Ukrainian voluntarily surrendered the IBF, WBC, and WBA belts, stating that after achieving undisputed status for the second time, he no longer needs to hold all the titles simultaneously. At the same time, he emphasized that he is not retiring and is exclusively looking for “big fights.” Usyk's most recent bout took place in May in Egypt, near the Giza pyramids, where he defeated renowned kickboxer Rico Verhoeven by technical knockout in the eleventh round. Thus, Usyk approaches 2027 as a champion free from mandatory defenses, giving him the freedom to choose his opponent. The Ukrainian's final fight schedule is expected to become clear as the outcome of the December Fury-Joshua fight unfolds and negotiations with Benavidez's camp progress. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Усик готовит два "последних танца": стали известны планы украинца на 2027 год](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/boxing/usik-gotue-dva-ostanni-tantsi-stali-vidomi-1792088662.html) - Primary source: Usyk's plans for 2027 (Fury, Benavidez), breakdown of talks with Wilder, vacation of IBF/WBC/WBA belts in late June, last fight against Rico Verhoeven in May in Egypt (TKO 11). Information on future fights is insider-based (Mike Coppinger, Ring Magazine). ## FAQ ### What fights is Oleksandr Usyk planning for 2027? According to Ring Magazine insider Mike Coppinger, Usyk is considering a third bout with Tyson Fury (if he defeats Anthony Joshua in Cardiff in December) and a fight against undefeated David Benavidez, who plans to move up to heavyweight. ### What happened to the negotiations for the Usyk vs. Wilder fight? Negotiations for Deontay Wilder's 'last dance' in March 2027 stalled due to financial disagreements and unagreed contract terms, putting this option in jeopardy. ### Why did Usyk vacate his titles? In late June, Usyk voluntarily surrendered the IBF, WBC, and WBA belts, stating that after becoming undisputed champion for a second time, he no longer needed to hold all the titles. He stressed that he is not retiring and is looking for 'big fights'. ### When did Usyk fight last? Usyk's last fight took place in May in Egypt, near the Giza pyramids, where he defeated kickboxer Rico Verhoeven by technical knockout in the 11th round.