Usyk vs Parker: WBO Orders Negotiations For Title Fight

Usyk and Parker: The WBO Orders Negotiations for Mandatory Defense

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has issued an order for heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to begin negotiations for a mandatory title defense against Joseph Parker. Usyk, who holds the undisputed heavyweight title, managed to unify the four belts for the second time. This was after his technical knockout victory in the fifth round over Daniel Dubois on July 19 at Wembley Stadium, London. Parker, after a streak of remarkable fights, won the WBO interim title against Zhilei Zhang in March 2024, making him Usyk’s mandatory challenger. According to the WBO, both parties have 30 days to reach an agreement. If not, the fight will be decided by auction.

“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 addressed to the teams of Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker.

WBO

The minimum auction amount has been set at $1,000,000. Frank Warren, Parker’s promoter, commented after Usyk’s victory over Dubois that Usyk’s first title defense should be against Joe Parker, highlighting that it would be a great fight.

“I would like to see the fight with Joe Parker. Joe deserves it,” said Warren. “He’s on a roll, just like Daniel, and that’s the fight that has been ordered.”

Frank Warren

Parker has won 12 of his last 13 fights, including victories over Deontay Wilder in 2023, Zhilei Zhang in 2024 and Martin Bakole in February. Usyk and Parker have 30 days to agree on the terms of their fight, otherwise, the WBO will order an auction.