Oleksandr Usyk has appeared on a PBC “Who’s Subsequent?” shortlist for David Benavidez after the Mexican Monster’s cruiserweight title win over Gilberto Ramirez in Las Vegas.
The graphic listed Usyk alongside Canelo Alvarez, Dmitry Bivol, and Artur Beterbiev after Benavidez’s sixth-round stoppage of Ramirez, pushing the brand new 200-pound titleholder right into a dialog that now stretches past cruiserweight.
There’s one apparent flaw in that concept, although. Usyk faces Rico Verhoeven on Could 23 earlier than a compulsory queue that would shortly take management of the WBC title image.
The WBC scenario is the rapid situation. Usyk has Agit Kabayel ready, with the inexperienced and gold belt doubtlessly changing into an issue if the Ukrainian doesn’t face the German contender after Verhoeven.
Kabayel’s WBC title shot turned a stay situation earlier this 12 months earlier than later clarification tightened the obligatory image.
Usyk Complication
Kabayel at the moment holds the interim WBC heavyweight title and expects to problem for the total championship subsequent. The German contender strengthened his case with stoppage victories over Frank Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov in Riyadh, but the WBC’s approval of Usyk vs Verhoeven has left him treading water on the skin.
That leaves Benavidez with the identical situation: any Usyk struggle would nearly actually want a serious title connected. Benavidez is unlikely to take that form of threat in opposition to Usyk except a major belt is on the road.
That might doubtlessly depart the door open to the WBA permitting Usyk vs Benavidez, with secondary champion Murat Gassiev out there to fend off complaints from its contenders.
With the IBF route not at the moment forcing the identical rapid situation, Usyk may nonetheless have room to maneuver if Kabayel finally ends up with the WBC belt.
That’s nonetheless an advanced state of affairs, and there’s nothing to counsel Usyk vs Benavidez is being negotiated. The PBC graphic merely positioned the heavyweight champion among the many names now being floated round Benavidez after his transfer as much as cruiserweight.
However the reality Usyk is even on the graphic says a lot about how Benavidez is now being positioned.
Kabayel Ready
Kabayel’s drawback is timing. Usyk has already mentioned how he desires the ultimate stretch of his profession to unfold, and Verhoeven is simply the primary a part of that plan.
That’s the reason the WBC title image is central to any Benavidez-Usyk state of affairs. If Usyk retains the belt, Kabayel stays the obligatory impediment. If Usyk offers it up or is relieved of it, a special opening may seem at heavyweight.
Kabayel has already accused Usyk of selecting cash over legacy, growing the stress on the WBC to make clear the place its interim champion stands.
For Benavidez, the problem is easier. Usyk is a large identify, however the title route has to make sense.
Benavidez Choices Develop
Canelo stays the emotional and industrial struggle. Bivol and Beterbiev stay legacy choices if Benavidez chooses to drop again down or meet both man at a workable weight.
Usyk is the wild-card identify. He brings heavyweight standing, pound-for-pound standing, and a stage of threat that may require a title reward connected to it.
Benavidez has proven he can transfer up with ease, so going that one step additional to the glamour division, and even asking Usyk for a catchweight, shouldn’t be out of the realm of chance.
His post-fight feedback already confirmed he’s considering past a regular cruiserweight run. Benavidez made it clear in his warning to Zuffa fighters that title entry and promotional politics will form what comes subsequent at 200 kilos.
Usyk being named on the shortlist doesn’t make the struggle doubtless. It does, nevertheless, present the dimensions of the names now being connected to Benavidez after Ramirez was dismantled.
For PBC, that’s the worth of the graphic. For Benavidez, it retains him within the dialog with the most important fighters throughout three divisions.
Concerning the Writer
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing Information (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of expertise. He has interviewed world champions, damaged worldwide exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Learn full bio.
