The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has ordered Oleksandr Usyk to begin negotiations to defend his WBO heavyweight title against Joseph Parker within the next 30 days. This directive could potentially derail British boxer Daniel Dubois’s hopes for a rematch with the Ukrainian champion.
Usyk, who also holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) titles, has been given a month to finalize terms for a mandatory title defense against Parker. If an agreement is not reached, the WBO will call for purse bids.
Parker, the WBO interim champion, secured a second-round stoppage victory over Martin Bakole last month in Riyadh. Bakole had stepped in as a late replacement after Dubois withdrew due to illness. Dubois, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion, had hoped to reschedule a fight against Parker but instead set his sights on a rematch with Usyk, who defeated him by ninth-round knockout in August 2023.
Dubois, 27, had been in talks for a potential bout with Usyk, which would have seen all four major world heavyweight titles on the line. However, the WBO’s announcement has complicated matters, highlighting the fragmented nature of boxing governance, where multiple world champions often exist within the same weight class.
Usyk became the first undisputed world heavyweight champion in nearly 25 years after defeating Tyson Fury in May 2024. However, he vacated his IBF title before the rematch, allowing Dubois to be elevated to full champion. The 38-year-old Usyk, a former undisputed world cruiserweight champion, extended his perfect professional record to 23 wins (14 by stoppage) after defeating Fury in a December rematch, retaining the unified WBC, WBA, and WBO titles.
Following his victory, Dubois interrupted Usyk’s post-fight interview to demand a rematch. However, Parker, who held the WBO title from 2016 to 2018 and is on a six-fight winning streak since losing to Joe Joyce in 2022, now appears to be the leading contender to face Usyk next.
In February, Usyk mentioned plans for two more fights before retiring.
For the latest updates and breaking news, don’t forget to visit ZTC News and Z News Today. Stay informed with reliable and up-to-date information!