Usyk plans cruiserweight return to face Benavidez in career 'final chapter'

Oleksandr Usyk's adviser Sergey Lapin announced the former undisputed heavyweight champion will return to cruiserweight in 2027 to seek undisputed status again.

• Lapin said Usyk aims to become undisputed cruiserweight champion again and called 2027 the final chapter of his career.
• Lapin said Usyk first targets a vacant world title bout, then a unification fight against unbeaten David Benavidez.
• Usyk, 39, held the heavyweight titles twice, beating Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois to reach 25–0.
• Benavidez, 32–0, holds the WBO and WBA cruiserweight belts and fights Michal Cieslak for the WBC title on 5 December.