OLEKSANDR Usyk had barely taken a breath before his next moves were being discussed and debated. The WBO have now put plans into place to ensure the Ukrainian maestro’s rest period will indeed be short-lived. One of their former champions has been thrust forward to provide the next test, potentially.
Not a week has passed since Usyk’s stunning fifth-round removal of Daniel Dubois in Wembley Stadium, which saw the 38-year-old take the IBF title back by force. Usyk resumed his undisputed heavyweight status and will need to repel an equally formidable challenge if he is to keep hold of all four titles.
“The WBO has officially ordered negotiations for the mandatory heavyweight title bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker. Both parties have 30 days to reach an agreement, or the WBO will proceed to a purse bid,” the sanctioning body sent out via email to all interested parties, as well as announcing on X.
“Let the countdown begin,” ended the tweet. Many view Parker as the next best available contender to Usyk’s red-hot throne. Only Agit Kabayel has really positioned himself as a rival, unless Usyk felt like revisiting old ground with the likes of Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua.
New Zealand’s Parker was last seen blasting away late-replacement opponent Martin Bakole. The Congolese heavy stepped in for Dubois, who withdrew, leaving a gaping hole in February’s Saudi card. Prior to the Bakole bashing, Parker had won back-to-back decisions over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, respectively, making him one of the most in-form heavyweights of the current crop.
