Right after Daniel Dubois pulled out of his rematch with Joseph Parker to chase a fight with Oleksandr Usyk, the WBO stepped in. They’ve ordered Usyk to defend his WBO heavyweight title against interim champ Joseph Parker. This is likely good news for Parker and his team, who were left disappointed and unsure of what was next after Dubois’ withdrawal.
The WBO has given Usyk and Parker a 30-day negotiation period to finalise the bout. If Usyk defeats Parker, who’s on a six-fight winning streak, it would be a significant statement for the unified champion. However, Usyk might opt to ignore the order and relinquish the WBO belt, potentially chasing a more lucrative fight with IBF champion Daniel Dubois for the undisputed title.
Daniel Dubois’ decision to bypass Parker and target Usyk follows his withdrawal from their scheduled fight in Saudi Arabia due to illness. Dubois is reportedly keen to bring the Usyk fight to the UK, with Wembley Stadium mentioned as a potential venue. Dubois, who recently defeated Anthony Joshua, is looking for a rematch after he lost to Usyk in 2023.
Joseph Parker, meanwhile, was forced to fight Martin Bakole as a late replacement when Dubois pulled out, and he impressively knocked out Bakole in the second round.
Parker, a former WBO heavyweight champion, has reinvented his fighting style since a knockout loss to Joe Joyce in 2023. He’s now a boxer/slugger, and his recent knockout of Bakole shows he still possesses significant power.
Parker is a different type of opponent than the fighters Usyk has recently faced. This fight would be more of a technical boxing match, testing Usyk’s ability to handle that style at 38 years old. Usyk, who recently became the undisputed heavyweight champion by defeating Tyson Fury, has consistently defeated top contenders, including Anthony Joshua twice, Tyson Fury twice, and Daniel Dubois. Parker is trying to reclaim the WBO belt he lost years ago, and this mandatory fight represents a crucial opportunity.
