Oleksandr Usyk vs David Benavidez floated as final fight option

Oleksandr Usyk has given up his three heavyweight belts and says he will have one more fight. The question now is who shows up across the ring for that last dance.

According to Bad Left Hook, David Benavidez has emerged as a wild card possibility despite the size gap. Benavidez's father and trainer Jose Benavidez Sr told media in early May that Usyk represents the only real challenge left for his son. "I think the biggest challenge would be Usyk," he said, per the report. "That's something like out of this world. But that's the only guy that I think — that would be fuckin' crazy, you know."

Could Benavidez make the jump to heavyweight?

Benavidez only moved up to cruiserweight this year after beating Zurdo Ramirez. The 29-year-old Mexican American is undefeated at 32-0 with 26 stoppages, but facing a heavyweight Usyk who typically weighs 225-230 pounds is another matter. Very few fighters have successfully made that leap from 175 pounds through cruiser to the top of the heavyweight division. Usyk did it better than almost anyone.

Roy Jones Jr, who won titles at middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight before a brief heavyweight run, told FightHype that Benavidez should take the shot. Jones pointed to Usyk's shaky performance against Rico Verhoeven in May as proof the Ukrainian is vulnerable. "Imagine if that would have been David Benavidez on that night, Usyk would have had his first loss," Jones reportedly said.

Other options remain on the table for the 39-year-old Usyk. Verhoeven wants a rematch. Tyson Fury could be lured back for a trilogy. Deontay Wilder is the one top heavyweight Usyk has not beaten. The fight is scheduled for later this year, though no date has been confirmed.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — Is Oleksandr Usyk vs David Benavidez a wild card possibility for Usyk’s last fight?