Oleksandr Usyk Considering A Move Back To Cruiserweight

Oleksandr Usyk seems to have more aspirations than becoming an undisputed heavyweight champion.

The unified heavyweight champion, Usyk, said that he wants to give the cruiserweight division another go.

“I was thinking about returning to cruiserweight and getting a few more of the world belts,” Usyk told Parimatch.

“You know, being a heavyweight means you have to be really heavy. You must eat a lot. It’s not hard to fight with these giants, but it’s really hard to eat all the time.”

Usyk already collected all four of the cruiserweight titles and became the first to do so in the four-belt era. Done in 2018, Usyk won via points over Russia’s Muray Gassiev in Moscow, Russia.

The Ukrainian boxer then successful defended the crown with a win over Tony Bellew.

After that, he moved up to heavyweight where he recorded a major upset win against Anthony Joshua, becoming the unified heavyweight champion. He became the third former cruiserweight champion to also become a world heavyweight champion.

Usyk then fought Joshua in a contracted rematch in August and retained his unified titles once more.

The 35-year-old was rumored to be tangled up for a fight with WBC champion Tyson Fury – who holds the last belt he needs – but those plans have yet to be official. They’ve been in back-and-forth talks as Fury called out Joshua on social media for a fight.

But Fury’s co-promoter, Bob Arum, said that he’s in daily contact with Usyk’s manager, and a fight should happen in 2023.

But Usyk said he wants to take it easier soon.

“And now I work much more than I did as a cruiserweight, particularly in the training camps,” Usyk continued. “I had to swim ten kilometers and train hard. At this moment I just want to stop and take a rest.

“A half of a year of training is hard work. I didn’t see my family for such a long time, I didn’t see my wife, children or anyone.”

Usyk’s cruiserweight titles that he once held are now scattered.

Ilunga Makabu has the WBC title, Arsen Goulamirian holds the WBA belt, Jai Opetaia has the IBF and Lawrence Okolie holds the WBO strap.