OLEKSANDR USYK is willing to return to cruiserweight to fight Canelo Alvarez.
Usyk reigned as undisputed king at the 200lb cruiserweight limit of 14st 4lb after beating Tony Bellew in 2018.
The unbeaten Ukrainian has since moved up to heavyweight and last year beat Anthony Joshua for the unified titles after bulking up to 15st 11lb.
He is set to hand the Brit a rematch now he has returned from the frontline defending his nation against Russia’s invasion.
But Canelo, boxing’s biggest superstar, has set his sights on Usyk’s heavyweight titles too.
Promoter Eddie Hearn told JOE: “He genuinely believes he can beat Oleksandr Usyk for the world heavyweight title.
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Usyk ‘doesn’t believe’ Fury’s retired as champ prepares for Joshua rematch
“He said to me, ‘If you can make that fight at one pound above cruiserweight, obviously was a cruiserweight, I will beat him.
“I find it hard not to believe him. Canelo comes from a tough upbringing in Mexico.
“He now has more money than he ever dreamed of and has achieved more than he ever dreamed of in the sport, yet he wants to win more than ever.
“That’s a special individual, especially in boxing.”
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Canelo, 31, last year unified the 168lb super-middleweight division of 12st.
But he will move up to 175lb to challenge WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Biviol, 31, over the weekend in Las Vegas.
Usyk, 35, meanwhile is set to rematch Joshua, 32, in July with talks take it to Saudi Arabia already in the works.
But the 2012 Olympic champ is willing to make a return to cruiserweight to face Canelo, who has never fought higher than 12st 7lb.
Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas tweeted: “Be our guest, Usyk will make Cruiserweight for this one.
“But let Canelo concentrate on Bivol for now.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk