WBO Orders Oleksandr Usyk to Defend Heavyweight Title Against Joseph Parker

The governing body has given Usyk and Parker 30 days to negotiate a mandatory title fight, complicating talks of an undisputed clash with Daniel Dubois.

Oleksandr Usyk, current WBC, WBA, and WBO heavyweight champion, has been mandated by the WBO to defend his title against New Zealand's Joseph Parker.
Usyk and Parker have 30 days to reach an agreement for the fight before the WBO initiates purse bid proceedings.
Parker, a former WBO champion, secured his position as the mandatory challenger after a second-round knockout victory over Martin Bakole in February for the WBO interim title.
The announcement disrupts ongoing discussions for a potential undisputed title fight between Usyk and IBF champion Daniel Dubois, who had been seeking a rematch after losing to Usyk in 2023.
Usyk, 38, has expressed plans to retire after two more fights, following his back-to-back victories over Tyson Fury to become and remain the undisputed heavyweight champion in 2024.