Usyk Benavidez Plan ‘Crazy’, Warns Malignaggi
Paulie Malignaggi has warned that the Usyk Benavidez plan could backfire. The former world champion called Oleksandr Usyk’s move back to cruiserweight to face David Benavidez “crazy” and said it could follow the same path as Roy Jones Jr’s late-career drop in weight.
Usyk, 39, has announced that he will return to the 200lb division in 2027 to chase undisputed status at cruiserweight again. He wants a blockbuster fight with Benavidez, the unbeaten Mexican-American who holds two world titles at the weight.
Malignaggi, speaking to talkSPORT, said the plan carries real risk for a fighter at the end of his career. “That is crazy. It is interesting. I’d say it’s an interesting, interesting take on his part,” he said.
Why Usyk wants to go back down
Usyk unified all four cruiserweight titles, then moved up to heavyweight and became a two-time undisputed champion there. His record is 25 wins from 25 fights, with 16 knockouts.
He has not fought since stopping Rico Verhoeven in May, and he vacated his heavyweight belts in the summer.
“I cleaned out heavyweight and now I’ll go back to my weight,” Usyk told DAZN. “It is big fight because Benavidez is big champion. When I have an opportunity, I take this opportunity. This is life.”
His manager, Serhii Lapin, has set out the plan. Usyk wants to fight first for the vacant IBF cruiserweight title, then face Benavidez and unify all the belts.
No boxer in history has won a heavyweight title and then dropped back to cruiserweight to win another belt. That is the scale of what Usyk is trying to do, and it is also why Malignaggi is worried.
The Usyk Benavidez fight
Benavidez, 29, is unbeaten in 32 fights, with 26 knockouts. He made his debut at 200lb in May, when he stopped Gilberto Ramirez in the sixth round to claim the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles and become a three-division world champion.
He now faces WBC champion Michal Cieslak in a three-belt unification fight on 5 December in Glendale, Arizona. The IBF title is vacant, so the winner of that fight will hold three of the four belts.
Benavidez has said he wants the Usyk fight for the undisputed crown, and he has opened the door to the clash once the Cieslak fight is done.
Roy Jones Jr, who knows the risks of dropping weight better than most, has told Benavidez to take the Usyk fight while it is there. “Be smart about this, go and take Usyk while the iron is still hot,” Jones said.
The Roy Jones warning
Malignaggi’s fear comes from what happened to Jones. The American moved up from light-heavyweight to heavyweight in 2003 and beat John Ruiz for the WBA title, weighing 193lb on the night. Eight months later he dropped back down to light-heavyweight and shed 20lb of muscle to face Antonio Tarver.
Jones won that first Tarver fight in November 2003 by majority decision, then lost the rematch by knockout and never looked the same fighter again.
“And we’ve seen guys try to drop down from heavyweight before, like Roy Jones did at the end of his career,” Malignaggi said. “Sometimes it’s very, very difficult, especially if you’ve grown into the new weight class. Can Usyk be the guy to drop back down and keep the same strength that he had before at cruiserweight?”
Malignaggi still believes Usyk has a chance. “We saw Usyk at cruiserweight was amazing, unbelievable. So there is always a chance,” he said.
What happens next
Benavidez must first get past Cieslak on 5 December. If he wins, he will hold three belts and the Usyk fight becomes a straight shot at undisputed status, once the vacant IBF belt is settled.
The move has already changed the heavyweight picture. Usyk vacated the Ring heavyweight title, which breaks the lineal championship. Daniel Dubois is the top contender for that title, with WBC champion Agit Kabayel second, Tyson Fury third and IBF belt-holder Filip Hrgovic fourth.
Usyk was pushed hard by Verhoeven in May before the late stoppage, so a hard weight cut at 39 against a 29-year-old puncher is a risk few champions would take.
The heavyweight division moves on without its king. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are edging towards a fight of their own, while Jai Opetaia features on the Fury-Joshua undercard plans and Daniel Dubois holds the WBO heavyweight title after beating Fabio Wardley. Fury’s place among the best heavyweights was debated again this month.
Why is Usyk moving back to cruiserweight?
Usyk wants to become undisputed champion at cruiserweight for a second time. He unified all four belts there before moving up to heavyweight, and he has now vacated his heavyweight titles to chase the same feat again at 200lb.
Who is David Benavidez?
Benavidez is a 29-year-old Mexican-American with a record of 32 wins and no defeats, including 26 knockouts. He holds the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles and faces WBC champion Michal Cieslak on 5 December for a third belt.
What happened to Roy Jones Jr when he dropped down in weight?
Jones moved up to heavyweight in 2003 and beat John Ruiz, then dropped 20lb to return to light-heavyweight. He beat Antonio Tarver by majority decision in November 2003, but lost the rematch by knockout and his form never recovered.
When could Usyk fight Benavidez?
No date has been confirmed. Benavidez fights Michal Cieslak on 5 December, and Usyk’s camp wants a fight for the vacant IBF title first. The Benavidez fight would follow if both men win their next bouts.
