Usyk Planning Cruiserweight Return After Fury Rematch To Be Undisputed For Two Periods

Oleksandr Usyk is considering a return to cruiserweight after his December 21 rematch against Tyson Fury to try and become a two-time undisputed champion.

Chasing Pennies in Ghost Town

Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) will have to take a pay cut to return to cruiserweight, which is an empty division, especially since IBF champion Jai Opetaia plans to move up to heavyweight.

The current cruiserweight champions are not recognizable by name to the average fan, and it would be great if Usyk fought any of them. It may take a few years for Usyk to achieve his goal of becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion for a second time, which would make him close to 40 years old by then.

Usyk told 3 Knockout Rule his vision of trying to become a two-time undisputed champion. It is not clear how serious Usyk is about trying to do that because it would be better for him to stay at heavyweight to face Anthony Joshua for the third time or Daniel Dubois.

The undefeated Usyk (22-0, 14 KOs) captured the vacant heavyweight title last month on May 18, defeating Tyson Fury via a twelve-round split decision in Riyadh. In 2018, Usyk won the undisputed cruiserweight championship. A year later, Usyk moved up to heavyweight in 2019 and has competed in that division ever since.

Cruiserweight Wasteland: A Dream Without a Name

If the cruiserweight division is full of popular champions, it would be more appropriate for usyk to return to this division to try to become the undisputed champion for a second time, but this is not the case.

Usyk has many options at heavyweight that are more appealing than going back to the empty, empty cruiserweight division, fighting with no name to accomplish something the boxing community will never appreciate.

It would mean something if the fans saw the cruiserweight division full of talent but it's not. This division has been dead again since Usyk stepped up

Current cruiserweight champions:

– Jai Opetaia: IBF
– Noel Mikaelyan: WBC
– Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez: WBA
– Chris Billiam-Smith: WBO

Opetaia may be the best, but he's boring to watch and fights like a big, shy version of Shakur Stevenson. He jumps, throws one-pot shots and jabs, and runs when his opponents want to throw. Unpleasant style, and he looks embarrassed when attacked. His two fights against Mairis Briedis were boring to watch because he doesn't like to be pressured.