The WBO has mandated that heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk begin negotiations for a mandatory title defense against Joseph Parker. Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) reclaimed the undisputed heavyweight championship by defeating Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in London on July 19th, unifying all four heavyweight titles for the second time.
At 38, Usyk entered the rematch holding the WBA, WBO, and WBC titles, while Dubois possessed the IBF belt, which Usyk had previously vacated to focus on a rematch with Tyson Fury. In the meantime, Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) captured the interim WBO title by beating Zhilei Zhang in March 2024, positioning him as a key challenger to Usyk’s undisputed status.
The WBO has given both camps 30 days to negotiate terms before moving to a wallet bid process if no agreement is reached. The minimum bid for the fight is set at $1 million. Parker’s promoter, Frank Warren, supports Parker getting this shot, calling it a well-deserved and exciting matchup following Usyk’s victory over Dubois.
Usyk had previously defeated Fury in May 2024 to become the undisputed champion but vacated the IBF title a month later to pursue a rematch with Fury instead of facing mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic.
Parker has made a strong comeback, winning 12 of his last 13 fights, including notable wins over Deontay Wilder in 2023, Zhang in 2024, and Martin Bakole in February. Usyk recently defended his title by knocking out Bakole in the second round in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With the 30-day negotiation window open, the boxing world awaits whether Usyk and Parker will agree to terms or if the WBO will proceed with the wallet bid to finalize the next heavyweight title fight.
Fan Take: This announcement is a thrilling development for boxing fans, as a clash between Usyk and Parker promises high stakes and intense action in the heavyweight division. It underscores the sport’s competitive spirit and the ongoing battle for supremacy among top fighters, keeping the heavyweight crown hotly contested and exciting to watch.
