Oleksandr Usyk Open To Returning To Cruiserweight To Face Canelo Alvarez
Oleksandr Usyk isn’t ruling out a return to cruiserweight.
Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion, has moved up to heavyweight and found success and beat Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua in back-to-back fights to become the WBA (Super) IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion.
Although Usyk will be rematching Joshua in his next fight, he is looking at a potential drop back down to cruiserweight to face Canelo Alvarez. Of course, Alvarez is expected to face WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Makabu next. Although he will be undersized, his coach is confident Alvarez will do just fine at cruiserweight.
“I know … what he has done with the heavyweights he spars with, and that is why we asked for the fight,” Reynoso told ESPN Deportes’ Salvador Rodriguez. “We know that [Makabu] is strong, but Canelo can beat him. … Many may say that it is crazy, but they also said that it was crazy when Canelo was junior middleweight champion, and we were looking for middleweights, super middleweight, light heavyweights. I have a lot of confidence in Canelo. He is very strong and has many qualities, and I know that he is going to win that fight.”
Should Canelo Alvarez win that, a fight with Oleksandr Usyk would be massive and it’s a fight that has piqued Usyk’s interest.
“Yes, I can fight him at cruiserweight. But with only one thing – I keep my belts at heavyweight,” Usyk said to Boxing Insider. “Then I go back to cruiserweight and fight him and then I come back to heavyweight.”
Although Usyk wants the fight against Alvarez, it’s uncertain the Mexican would take it. However, if the fight does happen and Alvarez beats Usyk, it would be a massive accomplishment and just cement himself as one of the best boxers ever considering he started his career out at 140lbs.
Would you like to see Canelo Alvarez vs. Oleksandr Usyk?