At least one person thinks Oleksandr Usyk would be severely misguided to go back down to cruiserweight for a fight with Canelo Alvarez.
Boxing icon Roy Jones Jr. was recently asked about Usyk’s supposed interest in fighting Alvarez at the cruiserweight limit, the latest hot-button issue to hit the sport. The subject was prompted by Alvarez’s recent indication that his next fight may take place at the oft-forgotten weight class, which Usyk had once completely unified. Usyk, of course, is currently the unified heavyweight champion after beating Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision in September.
But Jones believes Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) would be unwise to drop back down to cruiserweight for several reasons, none of which has to do with any belief that Alvarez would win. On the contrary.
“To me, Usyk is too big for Canelo,” Jones told IFL TV in a recent interview. “Uysk beats Canelo easy, in my opinion. But Uysk is the heavyweight champion of the world. Why would you go down to cruiserweight when you’re the heavyweight champion of the world?
“I remember when Chad Dawson went down from light heavyweight to fight Andre Ward at 168. That was the end of his career.”
In addition to potentially compromising his health and his prime, Jones believes that Usyk would stand to gain as much economically, if not more, if he stays put in the heavyweight ranks. After all, Usyk is the heavyweight champion with the most number of belts. Only Tyson Fury, who owns the WBC trinket, is a titlist in the division. For that reason, Jones is not convinced that Alvarez would present a bigger payday for Usyk than if he were to face the likes of Fury or even Joshua in a rematch.
In short, in Jones’ view, Usyk does not lack opportunities in the most remunerative division in boxing.
“Why would you [go back down to cruiserweight to fight Alvarez] when you have Tyson Furys, Deontay Wilders, Anthony Joshuas? You’ve got so many big guys in the weight class where you are champion right now that it makes no sense unless you’re making way more money fighting [Alvarez], which you’re not,” Jones said. “Usyk versus Fury right now is probably one of the biggest fights on the planet. Usyk versus Joshua is another big fight.”
“I think it’s all about a business decision. If there’ s more money you can make fighting somebody else, then ok. But why would you sacrifice by gambling on getting beat because you lost the weight when all you have to do is stay where you at and dominate?”
