Oleksandr Usyk is reportedly eyeing a sensational and unexpected return to the cruiserweight division at the age of 39, with unified world champion David Benavidez standing out as his primary target. The audacious plan has already begun to generate significant waves across the boxing world, prompting reactions from prominent figures in the sport, including British trainer Dave Coldwell, who has offered his candid verdict on the Ukrainian pound-for-pound star’s ambitious intentions.
Usyk famously departed the 200-pound weight class back in 2018. In his final appearance in the division, he delivered a masterclass before stopping British fan-favorite Tony Bellew in the eighth round to successfully defend his undisputed cruiserweight crown. Following that defining victory, Usyk made the permanent leap up to the heavyweight division. Over the ensuing years, he achieved the remarkable feat of becoming a two-time undisputed heavyweight ruler, conquering the giants of the division and cementing his legacy as one of the greatest fighters of his era.
Since Usyk vacated his titles to campaign at heavyweight, no other fighter has managed to replicate his historic feat of capturing all four major cruiserweight world titles simultaneously. However, American star David Benavidez is currently well on his trajectory toward achieving that exclusive milestone. Benavidez has transitioned into the weight class with devastating effect and is scheduled to challenge for his third cruiserweight strap in just his second outing at the weight next month, when he faces Michal Cieslak for the WBC world championship on Saturday, December 5.
The sheer dominance and rapid ascent of Benavidez—frequently dubbed "The Mexican Monster"—have not gone unnoticed by Usyk and his inner circle. In response to Benavidez’s campaign, Usyk’s manager, Sergey Lapin, recently detailed a surprising plan that would see the legendary Ukrainian drop back down in weight to challenge the fearsome unified champion.
The prospect of a former undisputed heavyweight champion draining back down to the 200-pound limit to face one of the most destructive punchers in the sport today has shocked observers and pundits alike. Among those weighing in on the prospective blockbuster is Dave Coldwell, who previously conditioned Tony Bellew for his high-stakes showdown against Usic years ago. Speaking candidly on his personal YouTube channel, Coldwell admitted that Usyk’s willingness to take on such a dangerous assignment suggests the fighter might be "a little bit nuts."
Elaborating on his thoughts, Coldwell expressed profound admiration for Usyk’s competitive spirit and lifelong dedication to seeking out the hardest challenges available in the sport. He noted that Usyk’s career has always been defined by a fearless attitude, pointing to his days climbing the ranks in the cruiserweight division where he routinely traveled to hostile territory and cleaned out the division the hard way by fighting every top contender.
Coldwell emphasized that for a fighter of Usyk’s advanced age and legendary status to still possess an unquenchable desire to test himself against a rising powerhouse like Benavidez is nothing short of extraordinary. He described the matchup as a tough, rigorous task and a testament to Usyk’s elite mindset, noting that the Ukrainian is not looking for easy exhibitions or soft touches, but rather wants to walk straight back in at the absolute highest level of the sport.
At the same time, however, Coldwell did not shy away from voicing serious tactical and physiological concerns regarding the proposed drop in weight. Having stood in the opposite corner and witnessed Usyk’s incredible ring IQ and physical attributes firsthand, the British trainer fears that the passage of time and the physical adaptations required to compete successfully at the elite heavyweight level might make a successful cruiserweight return exceptionally difficult.
Coldwell pointed out that since moving up to heavyweight, Usyk has naturally carried a significantly heavier muscular load and has visibly thickened out across his frame to contend with opponents weighing upwards of 230 to 240 pounds or more. Consequently, Coldwell’s primary worry centers on whether Usyk’s body can safely and effectively shed the extra mass without sacrificing the vital athletic traits that made him a phenomenon in the first place. Specifically, the trainer questioned whether Usyk would retain his trademark lightning-fast reactions, razor-sharp reflexes, explosive strength, and boundless energy levels after undergoing the grueling process of making the 200-pound limit at this stage of his career.
The logistical and biological hurdles of returning to a former weight division after years of campaigning as an elite heavyweight are immense. Fighters who add functional muscle to compete against much heavier men often find that stripping the weight away later in their careers strips away their power, stamina, and resilience. For a fighter striving to maintain the razor-thin margins required to defeat a destructive force like Benavidez, any miscalculation in the weight-cutting phase could prove catastrophic.
Meanwhile, the man standing on the other side of this prospective equation continues to prepare for his immediate domestic and international obligations. David Benavidez, who currently holds the WBA and WBO cruiserweight world championships, remains laser-focused on his upcoming unification bout. The hard-hitting champion is set to square off against Michal Cieslak for his prestigious WBC title on Saturday, December 5, in a high-stakes clash that will bring him one step closer to realizing his own dream of undisputed status in the division.
Whether Usyk’s ambitious plans to return to cruiserweight materialize into an official contract remains to be seen, as the boxing landscape is notoriously unpredictable and heavily influenced by promotional alignments, sanctioning body mandates, and the complex negotiations typical of modern mega-fights. Nevertheless, the mere mention of a potential showdown between the legendary Ukrainian technician and the relentless Mexican-American puncher has injected a massive dose of intrigue into the cruiserweight division, setting the stage for what could turn out to be one of the most compelling and dangerous matchups of the modern era.
