Oleksandr Usyk is contemplating a return to the cruiserweight division following his scheduled rematch with Tyson Fury. After defeating Fury in May to secure the WBC belt and unify the heavyweight titles, Usyk became the first undisputed world heavyweight champion in almost 25 years. The highly anticipated rematch is set to take place in Riyadh on December 21.
In a recent interview on the 3 Knockdown Rule podcast, the 37-year-old Ukrainian boxer hinted at his plans to switch divisions after the upcoming fight.
“I think maybe after the rematch, I am going to go down in weight to cruiserweight. I want more (fights at) cruiserweight,” Usyk said.
Usyk’s manager, Egis Klimas, also confirmed the possibility, stating, “Maybe we go back down to cruiserweight. We spoke about it yesterday, to get undisputed for a second time in the cruiserweight division.”
Usyk cited the challenges of maintaining the heavyweight category as a factor in his decision.
“Maybe, it is my plan because when I start to prepare for my training camp (as a heavyweight), I have to eat all the time. For me it’s hard, I don’t like it,” he explained.
Usyk transitioned to the heavyweight division in 2019 after unifying the cruiserweight titles. His victory over Fury extended his unbeaten record to 22 fights, with previous wins in the heavyweight division against Daniel Dubois, Anthony Joshua (twice), Derek Chisora, and Chaz Witherspoon.
Despite his success, Usyk appears to rule out a potential trilogy with Fury or a third bout with Joshua, focusing instead on the cruiserweight division where he initially made his mark.
