Usyk vs. Parker: WBO Orders Negotiations for Mandatory Defense
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has issued an order for heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to begin negotiations to defend his title in a mandatory defense against Joseph Parker. Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) consolidated as undisputed heavyweight champion, unifying the four titles for the second time after defeating Daniel Dubois by TKO in the fifth round on July 19 at Wembley Stadium in London. Parker (36-3, 24 KOs), who has been on an impressive run, won the WBO interim title against Zhilei Zhang in March 2024. This makes him the mandatory challenger to Usyk, the undisputed champion. According to the WBO, both parties have 30 days to reach an agreement before the fight goes to auction.The minimum amount for the auction has been set at $1,000,000. Frank Warren, Parker’s promoter, commented after Usyk’s victory over Dubois that Usyk’s first defense should be against Joe Parker, adding that it would be a great fight. Usyk previously became undisputed champion after defeating Fury in May 2024, but relinquished the IBF belt a month later to pursue a rematch with Fury instead of facing then-mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic.“Under this order, the parties have thirty (30) days from the issuance of this letter to reach an agreement,” the WBO stated in a letter sent to the teams of Olekandr Usyk and Joseph Parker on Tuesday.
WBO
