David Benavidez targets Oleksandr Usyk for a final heavyweight fight

David Benavidez has emerged as a possible opponent for Oleksandr Usyk’s final professional fight, with his team seeking a heavyweight meeting between the two champions. Usyk, 39, has said he intends to box once more before retiring.

The proposed contest was raised by Benavidez’s father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr, in messages exchanged with Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh. The plan being discussed is a major event around Cinco de Mayo in 2027, although there has been no confirmation that negotiations have begun or that the fight will take place.

Alalshikh’s response to the proposal was limited to saying he would see Benavidez Sr, offering no clear indication that a Usyk-Benavidez bout is currently being arranged. The exchange was made public by Ricardo Celis as Benavidez’s camp pushed for the matchup.

Usyk had been linked with former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, but those talks have not produced an announced date or venue. The Ukrainian vacated his three heavyweight titles in June after beating Rico Verhoeven by an 11th-round stoppage in May. That performance was viewed as below his usual level, despite Verhoeven’s strong effort.

Benavidez is coming off a sixth-round stoppage of Gilberto Ramirez, a victory that gave him the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles in May. The result added another division to his record and strengthened the case for a move into the heavyweight picture against Usyk.

Before any possible meeting with Usyk, Benavidez could face WBC interim champion Michal Cieslak on December 12. He has also mentioned a cruiserweight bout with Jai Opetaia, who is scheduled to meet WBC champion Noel Mikaelian on September 12, on the undercard of Ryan Garcia’s fight with Conor Benn.