Oleksandr Usyk open to fighting Canelo Alvarez next on one condition
- Joe Hewlett
- 13 December 2021
“Yes, I can fight him at cruiserweight. But with only one thing - I keep my belts at heavyweight."
Oleksandr Usyk is open to facing Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez next at cruiserweight - but only if he can keep his heavyweight world titles.
The Ukrainian southpaw left the 200lb division as undisputed champion and moved up to heavyweight, unifying the division in just his third fight.
While there have been talks with Tyson Fury's team about trying to make a fight next, it appears Usyk will now rematch Anthony Joshua following the WBC's decision to make Dillian Whyte the former's mandatory.
However, with the prospect of Canelo turning his attentions to fighting at cruiserweight next year, Usyk has put his name in the hat.
He told BoxingInsider: "Yes, I can fight him at cruiserweight. But with only one thing - I keep my belts at heavyweight.
"Then I go back to cruiserweight and fight him and then I come back to heavyweight."
Canelo will more than likely vacate his world titles after 168lbs after becoming the first undisputed champion at super middleweight this year.
The Mexican unified the division in May by overcoming Billy Joe Saunders before stopping Caleb Plant in round 11 to add the IBF strap to his WBA, WBC and WBO belts.
Beterbiev and Smith Jr in contention
Canelo wants to face Ilunga Makabu next for the WBC cruiserweight title. But according to promoter Bob Arum, he will have to 'abandon' it due to Makabu having to face his mandatory challenger next in a rematch.
While the fight could still happen with Makabu on Cinco de Mayo weekend in May, Arum expects the four-division world champion to take on one of his fighters.
"I know Canelo pretty well, since he was a young man," Arum said. "He has expressed interest to me about fighting Beterbiev or Joe Smith. I would look forward to May or September, the two dates that Canelo likes to fight, that he would fight one of those light-heavyweights."
Beterbiev is the unified champion at light heavyweight and undefeated from 16 fights, winning all of them inside the distance.
A showdown with the Russian would be the biggest fight out there for Canelo in terms of respect and admiration from the boxing fraternity.
Joe Smith Jr. is also a possible option and he holds the WBO version. He is returning to the ring next month and will collide against Callum Johnson.
