The WBO has ordered heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) to face interim strap holder Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) subsequent. The 2 have a month [30 days] to place collectively a deal to common a handbag bid with the sanctioning physique.
Usyk’s Selection
It’ll be as much as Usyk, 38, to find out whether or not he desires to face Parker or give attention to a extra profitable match that persons are focused on seeing.
Parker has rebuilt his profession with current wins over an out-of-shape 310-lb Martin Bole and two older heavyweights, Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang.
The New Zealand Parker had been scheduled to problem IBF champion Daniel Dubois final month on the February twenty second card in Riyadh, however Dubois pulled out with an sickness. That will have been a really onerous combat for Joseph to win as a result of Dubois is in his prime and younger.
Parker has a boring combating fashion and his character doesn’t appear to get followers enthusiastic about seeing him. If Usyk does face him, many followers will move on this combat if it’s offered on PPV. With no nice undercard, Usyk-Parker is a lackluster combat.
Followers would favor to see WBA, WBC and WBO champion Usyk face Dubois for the undisputed championship moderately than Parker. He’s seen as the subsequent greatest heavyweight within the division subsequent to Usyk.
The 2 of them can be a wonderful combat. If Usyk wins his combat with Parker, he can nonetheless face Dubois in a rematch if that’s a match that pursuits him.
Usyk is coming off of back-to-back wins over Tyson Fury, and he’s wanting onerous to beat. He despatched Fury into retirement along with his current win over him on December twenty first of their rematch final yr.
Parker has to benefit from this chance as a result of it’s taken him seven years to get on this place after shedding his WBO title in 2018 to Anthony Joshua.
Re: Negotiations – WBO Necessary Heavyweight Championship Contest Oleksandr Usyk vs. Joseph Parker https://t.co/Syi1MBds0a
— WBO (@WorldBoxingOrg) March 13, 2025
Boxing Information 24 » Breaking: Usyk vs. Parker Ordered by WBO, Negotiations Start Instantly
Final Up to date on 03/13/2025