Could an Usyk v Canelo fight at cruiserweight ever actually happen?
By Oli Dickson Jefford
You’d be hard-pressed to find many boxers better than Oleksandr Usyk or Canelo Alvarez.
Late bloomer Usyk has forged a formidable career, winning all 19 of his professional fights to date and dismantling Anthony Joshua in September to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles.
Meanwhile, Alvarez is considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter of his generation, holding a 57-1-2 record and winning world titles across four different weight classes.
The Mexican currently holds four belts in the super middleweight division and a future move to light heavyweight is possible, having frequently moved up through divisions during his career.
And after that, he could well become a cruiserweight, the weight that Usyk previously fought at before his move to heavyweight.
With the two not too far away in terms of weight classifications, many people are hoping to see them clash at cruiserweight.
What would need to happen to make it possible?
On paper, Alvarez is the most likely to fight at cruiserweight in the future, but that might be a while off just yet.
He will want to prove himself at light heavyweight before even considering a move to cruiserweight, and though he will likely have success at that division there are no guarantees.
For Usyk, things are a little more complicated.
Having moved up from cruiserweight, a division he has already proved himself in, to heavyweight, there is still plenty for him to do in his new weight class.
To begin with, there is the matter of a rematch against Joshua, which was a clause in the original contract when the two first agreed to fight last year.
Assuming he beats the Brit again, a unification bout against the reigning WBC champion would likely be the next step; this will probably still be Tyson Fury.
Losses to Joshua or Fury may make Usyk reconsider what weight he wants to fight at, but there are other heavyweights he may fancy taking on.
Generally it is also more difficult for boxers to step down in weight, with the majority of boxers either fighting at the same weight or stepping up in weight during their career.
It would take some effort from the Ukrainian to lose the weight he’s previously gained to return to cruiserweight, and there would need to be a compelling reason for him to want to do that.
However, a blockbuster fight against Alvarez could be that reason.
Is it a possibility?
It is possible that we could one day see Alvarez and Usyk face each other at cruiserweight, though on paper it does seem unlikely.
The big stumbling block here is Usyk, as the 34-year-old will still want to prove himself even further at heavyweight after his statement performance against Joshua.
With a potential unification bout against Fury looming, the Ukrainian's current priority will be focusing on improving at his current weight and not a potential step back down.
Alvarez will likely thrive at light heavyweight and a move to cruiserweight after that looks possible, though a fight against Usyk at that weight is only a small possibility.
Photo Credit: Getty Images