Usyk ordered to battle Parker

PARIS, France (AFP) — Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) to face New Zealander Joseph Parker in a mandatory heavyweight title defense.

The Ukrainian was crowned undisputed world heavyweight champion on Saturday after beating Daniel Dubois in a fifth-round stoppage at Wembley Stadium.

The victory, sealed when he left the Briton on the canvas with a left-handed punch, secured a 24th professional win for the undefeated 38-year-old, who won back his International Boxing Federation belt and added it to World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council and WBO titles.

After becoming undisputed world heavyweight champion for a second time, Usyk mentioned Parker as a possible future opponent.

On Thursday, a letter from the WBO ordered negotiations to take place between Usyk and Parker for a mandatory heavyweight title bout.

Both fighters have 30 days to reach terms, otherwise, purse bid proceedings will be ordered.

Parker defended his WBO interim title in Riyadh in February with a second-round stoppage against Martin Bakole, a late replacement for Dubois, who withdrew due to illness.

The New Zealand fighter had previously held the WBO title from 2016 to 2018 and is on a six-fight winning streak since losing to Joe Joyce in 2022.