‘I am going to go down’ – Oleksandr Usyk planning cruiserweight return after Tyson Fury rematch

Oleksandr Usyk is planning to move back down to cruiserweight after his rematch with Tyson Fury in December.

Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in the four-belt era when he beat Fury via split decision in May.

Prior to moving up a division, the Ukrainian was the undisputed cruiserweight champion and he admitted he would like to return to his natural weight class before he hangs up his gloves.

“I think maybe after the rematch, I am going to go down in weight to cruiserweight. I want more [fights at] cruiserweight,” Usyk told The 3 Knockdown Rule podcast.

“Maybe I can be undisputed for a second time in the cruiserweight division, it's my plan. When I start to prepare for my training camp [as a heavyweight], I have to eat all the time. For me it's hard, I don't like it.”

Usyk made the jump to heavyweight in 2019 after beating Tony Bellew in the eighth round to become the undisputed cruiserweight champion and recorded wins over Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora before winning the WBO, IBF and WBA belts from Anthony Joshua.

He defended his world title belts, first in a rematch with Joshua and then against Daniel Dubois before facing Fury in Saudi Arabia last month.

Usyk weighed in at 16st 6lb for the bout, the heaviest of his career, but was still giving up nearly 30lb to his opponent.

Fury appeared to control the first half of the fight until the Ukrainian gained a foothold and then nearly stopped ‘The Gypsy King’ in the ninth round.

The pair battled to the final bell in a fight for the ages before Usyk was awarded the victory on two of the judges’ scorecards.

Fury was adamant in the aftermath he had won and quickly took up his option for a rematch, which is scheduled for December 21 in Saudi Arabia.

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