David Benavidez says Oleksandr Usyk has been 'spoken to' about a fight

It may be that David Benavidez simply can't help himself.

But when you're that good, who can blame him?

At Wednesday's opening press conference in Los Angeles to promote Benavidez's cruiserweight unification title fight with Michael Cieslak set for Dec. 5 in Glendale, Arizona, Benavidez, 32-0 (26 KOs), answered countless questions – few of them about the task at hand.

Cieslak, 28-2 (22 KOs), carries a belt but isn't considered a serious threat to Benavidez, who continues to think bigger and beyond his current circumstances.

Benavidez chased Canelo Alvarez at super middleweight for the better part of two years, to no avail. He has repeatedly challenged himself by moving into new weight divisions, targeting belts and the best opposition there was to offer.

He says he is game for what may be the ultimate challenge: Oleksandr Usyk, formerly undisputed at both cruiserweight and heavyweight.

"There's a lot of great opportunities," Benavidez told Fight Hub TV on Wednesday in L.A. "We have spoken to Usyk about coming down to cruiserweight. It would be for undisputed, obviously."

"Undisputed, obviously" is a strong characterization for a proposed undisputed matchup between fighters who currently hold one title between them. Benavidez possesses a belt, with the prospect of securing another title in a win over Cieslak. Usyk vacated his heavyweight belts in the summer of 2026 and hasn't competed at cruiserweight since 2018.

"Obviously it would be a big fight with me and Usyk at heavyweight, but there's more history [in a cruiserweight matchup] – that this fight is gonna be for all four belts," Benavidez said.

"Right now, he has no belts at heavyweight. He's lineal champ, but there's no belts. He let all the belts go."

A minor inconvenience. Benavidez has largely been avoided by the best in three divisions: super middleweight, light heavyweight and cruiserweight. But he continues to find new ways that, and opponents who, will push him. No matter his motivation – money, fame, legacy – he has routinely moved toward danger rather than away from it.

"I don't give a fuck," he said. "I want to fight. I want to fight the best people. If I gotta go up there and fight for the lineal belt with no [sanctioning body] belts, I'll do that. I just wanna fight the best in the world.

"I want my respect. And I'm gonna get it one way or another."