“Maybe one day we can get a fight with Usyk,” Benavidez told the It Is What It Is YouTube channel.
The comment came as Benavidez outlined his current plans, which are focused on competing at higher weights after already stepping up to light heavyweight. He indicated that cruiserweight is the next step, not heavyweight, and that any talk of facing someone like Usyk is further ahead.
Unified heavyweight champion Usyk has already said he is retiring after three more fights. It starts with Rico Verhoeven on May 23rd at the Pyramids, followed by a WBO title fight (probably against the Wardley-Dubois winner), and ends with the Tyson Fury trilogy.
By the time he finishes that trilogy, Usyk will likely be 40 or 41 and ready to focus on his football career and promotional work.
After asking for a fight with Saul Alvarez for years, Benavidez said he is no longer waiting for one opponent to dictate his path. Instead, he continues to move forward and take on new challenges as they come.
“I don’t want to wait for anybody anymore,” Benavidez said. “If that means jumping up weight classes, that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
Benavidez says he’s done waiting, but his Usyk comments require the ultimate wait. Usyk isn’t going to sit around for two years while Benavidez acclimates to 200 lbs and then tries to move up to heavyweight.
By mentioning the man who beat Fury and Joshua, Benavidez keeps his name in the same breath as the “Pound for Pound” kings. It makes him look like a fearless conqueror, even though the fight is practically impossible.
“I just want to show everyone I’m the best,” he said.
Benavidez’s future appears to be at 175 and 200 rather than heavyweight. He has his hands full with Zurdo Ramirez next month, and it’s a real fight
