Could Usyk Step Down To Cruiserweight Again

After a recent victory over Anthony Joshua, it is fair to say that the landscape of boxing’s heavyweight division has changed considerably and whereas plans for a Battle of Britain had previously been made, it is now Oleksandr Usyk who finds himself as kingmaker.

With an all-British fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury on the backburner, it is Usyk who is revelling in the glory of his success and for those who backed him to win with a Caesars sportsbook promo code, they would have been counting their dollars after the judges’ scorecards were revealed.

The Ukrainian’s measured performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London was one that was enough to earn possession of each of the IBF, WBA & WBO heavyweight titles and although a rematch with Joshua is planned for the first quarter of 2022, that is not the only plan for Usyk.

Because with the 19-0 fighter having once ruled the roost at cruiserweight, it is this division that has once again caught his attention or perhaps, it is the potential purse that could come with dropping down a level.

Although the cruiserweight division is not necessarily known to host the biggest names in boxing today, it could provide the perfect halfway house between Usyk and the man who he would like to meet in the ring.

A man that is none other than Canelo Alvarez and with the Mexican already the king of the super middleweight class, his desire to add more belts to his collection is one that sees him looking up the food chain.

While it seems that the two men may have what the other desires. In Alvarez, there is the ability to generate an incredible amount of fight revenue and in Usyk, there is a man who would provide genuine world-class opposition.

Something that Alvarez has arguably ducked as of late and although he is adding more and more belts to his already burgeoning collection, there are questions about the calibre of opposition that he is facing in the ring.

Is he facing paper champions? That is something to be argued and it is not something you would argue to Alvarez’s face. Although at the same time, it is perhaps a little harsh to label those he has vanquished with such a status.

Then again, there is certainly the feeling that the 31-year-old is not quite testing himself against the very best and has not done so, since he went to war with Gennady Golovkin on two separate occasions.

Occasions that saw a draw first time around and then an eventual win for the Mexican multi-weight champion back in 2018. Since then, the calibre of opponent that Alvarez has faced, has not been to the same standard.

A standard that Oleksandr Usyk could meet rather easily and although there is no reason why such a conjectured fight could not go ahead, there is one substantial reason why it may never end up getting off the ground.

That is the small matter of the Ukrainian’s obligations as IBF, WBA & WBO heavyweight champion and although he has made no secret of his desire for a one-time return to cruiserweight, it comes with a caveat.

One that would mean his heavyweight belts would not be in jeopardy, should this fight be taken and although they would not be up for grabs in any catchweight bout, there is the small matter of an Anthony Joshua rematch to follow.

Which means all the talk of going back to cruiserweight can only get louder, if the rematch is also dealt with and although a bumper purse with Alvarez may be tempting, there is also a Tyson Fury shaped opportunity that could appear.

Quite simply, if the Olympic Gold Medallist Joshua is bested for the third time in his professional career, any plans for an all-British fight are dead in the water and that would mean Fury will have to look to a new foe to fall.

One that stands between the Manchester-born fighter becoming the undisputed heavyweight king and with the same prize potentially being on the horizon for Usyk, any dreams of a fight with Canelo Alvarez may just have to be put on the shelf for a while.