Benavidez Targets Usyk in Ambitious Three Fight Plan

David Benavidez is targeting a series of high-profile fights against Jai Opetaia, Artur Beterbiev and Oleksandr Usyk as he prepares for the next stage of his boxing career. The American cruiserweight champion outlined the plan in October 2026, identifying three elite opponents he hopes to face after his scheduled contest against Michal Cieslak.

According to interviews reported by Sports Yahoo and TalkSport, Benavidez intends to pursue a three-fight agreement following his bout with Cieslak, who holds the WBC cruiserweight title. The proposed schedule remains unconfirmed, and the outcome of Benavidez's upcoming championship fight will determine whether he can advance toward those targets.

Benavidez described the proposed opponents during an appearance on The Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer.

"I'm going to sign a three-fight contract. After this fight, we're talking about Opetaia, we're talking about Beterbiev, and we are maybe talking about Usyk. So those fights are going to be at cruiserweight, and I'm a little bit confused about the one with Usyk.

That might either be at cruiserweight or heavyweight. Those are three great fights that need to happen, and they are going to happen. I'm not just here saying I'm going to fight these guys and then I never fight them.

I'm going to fight these guys because this is who I want to fight. I want Opetaia, I want Beterbiev and I want Usyk," Benavidez said.

The proposed agreement would give Benavidez opportunities against champions from different divisions. However, the reports do not establish that any of the three matchups has been finalized or that the contract has been signed.

Opetaia is a leading priority for Benavidez, who previously indicated that he wanted to face the Australian champion during the Cinco de Mayo weekend in May 2027. According to Boxing News 24, Benavidez has identified the matchup as an important commitment in his plans.

"The fight that I got to honor first is the fight with Opetaia because I told him I'd fight him Cinco de Mayo next year," Benavidez said.

A potential contest with Beterbiev would present a different challenge. Benavidez has suggested that the former light heavyweight champion could compete at cruiserweight rather than return to the 175-pound division, although no agreement for the fight has been announced.

"I think it's a better fight for both of us at cruiserweight. It'd be a bigger challenge for me," Benavidez said.

Usyk represents the most ambitious proposed matchup because of his accomplishments at heavyweight. The Ukrainian became the undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era after defeating Tyson Fury in May 2024, according to the BBC. He subsequently vacated his world titles, leaving the division's championship landscape open to other contenders.

TalkSport reported that Usyk's plans for a final professional appearance had changed after discussions about a fight with Deontay Wilder collapsed. The report identified a potential third fight against Fury and a cross-divisional meeting with Benavidez as possible alternatives. Neither contest had been confirmed.

Benavidez has also acknowledged uncertainty over the weight class for a possible meeting with Usyk. A cruiserweight contest would differ substantially from a heavyweight fight, where Usyk has established himself against larger opponents.

"I'm actively looking to make that [Usyk fight] happen, too. I just don't know what's going to happen first. If Opetaia is already looking to fight Deontay Wilder, then I'll take my business elsewhere. If we can't get that Opetaia fight for Cinco de Mayo, then we'll do it with Usyk … It would be a shame [if the Opetaia fight is not made]," Benavidez told The Ring, according to TalkSport.

Before pursuing those longer-term targets, Benavidez must deal with Cieslak. The Polish fighter holds the WBC cruiserweight championship, while Benavidez holds the WBA and WBO titles, according to Sports Yahoo. Their scheduled meeting could determine whether Benavidez adds another major championship to his collection.

The reports differ on the scheduled date of the Cieslak fight. Sports Yahoo and Boxing News 24 identify December 5, while a separate TalkSport report lists December 12 in Phoenix, Arizona. The date and venue therefore require confirmation.

Usyk's potential return also intersects with plans elsewhere in the heavyweight division. Frank Warren, who promotes WBO champion Daniel Dubois and WBC champion Agit Kabayel, has expressed interest in arranging major title fights in 2027 and bringing Usyk back into the championship picture.

"The plan is to make the unification fights happen and try to get Usyk back in it," Warren told the BBC's 5 Live Boxing podcast.

Warren has also invited Usyk to consider fights against his heavyweight contenders, including Kabayel and Dubois. Sky Sports reported that Warren believes a returning Usyk could immediately pursue a top-level opponent.

"He can do what he likes, but if he wants to fight one of these guys, then come and see us. It's not hard for us to do. We've worked together on quite a few occasions now, we got on very well and we've delivered," Warren said.

Another potential heavyweight storyline involves Fury and Anthony Joshua, who are scheduled to meet in Cardiff on December 11. Warren said the WBA had made its super heavyweight championship available for the contest, although the sanctioning body had not publicly confirmed the arrangement in the BBC report.

Meanwhile, Dubois is scheduled to defend his WBO heavyweight title against Fabio Wardley in London, with the outcome potentially shaping his plans for 2027. His trainer, Don Charles, said the team was focused on the immediate challenge.

"It would be foolish of me to overlook Saturday. Fabio's a serious, serious fighter. A very determined fighter.

He's ambitious, quite rightly so and he's a former world champion. He's going to do everything in his physical make up and desire to try and recapture his title and it's down to us say no you can't have it, we're having it for keeps," Charles told Sky Sports.

The BBC also reported that British heavyweight Moses Itauma plans to return in January after suffering the first professional defeat of his career against Filip Hrgovic in August. Warren said Itauma intends to rebuild his momentum and pursue a world title in 2027.

"He's fighting in January. We'll be announcing his fight in the next couple of weeks," Warren said.

"We had a constructive meeting a couple of weeks ago. We let the dust settle, talked about what happened against Hrgovic," Warren added.

Itauma, 21, has won 14 of his 15 professional bouts, including 12 by knockout, according to the BBC. His return is expected to be part of his effort to recover from the loss and re-enter the heavyweight title picture.

"Moses comes back and has a fight and wants to be in the mix," Warren said.

"He's only 21 and he wants 2027 to be the year he wins a world title," Warren added.