Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered to commence negotiations for a mandatory defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title against Joseph Parker. This move potentially dashes British fighter Daniel Dubois’ hopes for a rematch with the Ukrainian.

The WBO announced Thursday that Usyk, who also holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) belts, has 30 days to reach an agreement with New Zealand’s Parker. If no deal is made within this period, the governing body will call for purse bids.

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Parker solidified his claim as a top contender last month in Riyadh by defending his WBO interim title with a second-round stoppage of Martin Bakole, a late replacement after Dubois withdrew due to illness. Instead of rescheduling his bout against Parker, Dubois had set his sights on a rematch with Usyk, who had defeated him by ninth-round knockout in August 2023.

Dubois’ Setback in Title Pursuit

Dubois has since re-established himself in the heavyweight division with stoppage wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic before delivering a stunning knockout of former world champion Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September. His professional record now stands at 22 wins, with two losses and 21 knockouts.

The 27-year-old was reportedly in negotiations for a showdown with Usyk that would have seen all four major world heavyweight titles on the line. However, the WBO’s ruling has complicated the heavyweight title landscape, where multiple sanctioning bodies often lead to overlapping claims to championship status.

Usyk’s Unification and Future Plans

Usyk became the first undisputed world heavyweight champion in nearly 25 years after defeating Britain’s Tyson Fury in May 2024. However, he later vacated his IBF belt before their rematch, allowing Dubois to be elevated to full IBF champion. The former undisputed world cruiserweight champion, Usyk, 38, remains undefeated with a professional record of 23 wins, including 14 stoppages.

Following his unanimous decision victory over Fury in their December rematch, Dubois entered the ring, interrupting Usyk’s post-fight interview to demand a bout. However, Parker—who previously held the WBO title from 2016 to 2018 and is currently on a six-fight winning streak since losing to Joe Joyce in 2022—has now emerged as the next challenger.

Usyk previously stated in February that he plans to have two more fights before retiring, setting the stage for a potential showdown with Parker before hanging up his gloves.

SportsLigue