Usyk vs. Parker: The WBO Orders Negotiations for the World Title Defense
Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) to begin negotiations to defend his title against Joseph Parker. Usyk, who holds the undisputed heavyweight title, unified the four belts for the second time after his technical knockout victory in the fifth round against Daniel Dubois on July 19 at Wembley Stadium, London. In that fight, 38-year-old Usyk arrived as the WBA, WBO, and WBC champion. Dubois, for his part, held the IBF title, which Usyk had vacated to prioritize a rematch with Tyson Fury. Parker, with an impressive fight record, was crowned interim WBO champion by defeating Zhilei Zhang in March 2024, making 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, stated after Usyk’s victory over Dubois that Usyk’s first defense should be against Joe Parker, and added that it would be a great fight.“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 on Tuesday.
WBO
Usyk had previously conquered the undisputed title by defeating Fury in May 2024, but relinquished the IBF belt a month later to have a rematch with Fury instead of facing the then mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic.“I would like to see the fight with Joe Parker. Joe deserves it,” Warren commented. “He’s on a roll, just like Daniel, and that’s the fight that has been ordered.”
Frank Warren
