Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) to begin negotiations for a mandatory title defense against New Zealand’s Joseph Parker. The two fighters now have 30 days to reach an agreement, or the bout will go to a purse bid.
Parker, 33, solidified his status as the WBO’s interim champion in February with a dominant second-round knockout victory over Martin Bakole. With an impressive resurgence, the former WBO titleholder is now set for the toughest challenge of his career as he looks to dethrone Usyk.
The Ukrainian boxing sensation, 38, currently holds the WBC, WBA (Super), and WBO heavyweight titles. His last fight, a thrilling rematch against Tyson Fury in December, marked his second consecutive victory over the British heavyweight, further cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s greats.
While Usyk gears up for negotiations with Parker, Britain’s Daniel Dubois, the reigning IBF heavyweight champion, remains in discussions to face Usyk for the undisputed crown. Dubois was originally scheduled to fight Parker on February 22 but withdrew due to illness, ruling out any immediate plans for a rescheduled bout.
Read also: Real Madrid edge Atletico in dramatic penalty shootout to reach Champion
Parker, who previously held the WBO title from 2016 to 2018, first won the belt by defeating Andy Ruiz Jr. and defended it successfully twice before losing to Anthony Joshua. After a tough loss to Joe Joyce in 2022, Parker has bounced back in spectacular fashion, winning six consecutive fights, including a statement victory over former WBC champion Deontay Wilder.
Usyk, unbeaten in 23 professional fights with 14 knockouts, continues to dominate the heavyweight division. Before stepping up in weight, the Ukrainian was the undisputed cruiserweight champion and has seamlessly replicated his success at heavyweight.
Saudi Arabia has become the epicenter of high-stakes boxing, hosting Usyk’s last two showdowns with Fury in Riyadh. The Olympic gold medalist previously vacated his IBF title after his first win over Fury in 2024, leading to Dubois being upgraded to full champion ahead of his victory over Anthony Joshua in September.
With the WBO now enforcing Usyk’s mandatory defense against Parker, boxing fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating whether Parker can pull off an upset or if Usyk will continue his reign of dominance.
