Usyk V. Parker Soon? 30 Days To Find Out…
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The WBO mandates Oleksandr Usyk to defend his heavyweight titles against Joseph Parker. Usyk beat Daniel Dubois, and Parker is on a six-fight winning streak.
Boxing's heavyweight division just received its marching orders as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) officially mandated that undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk must defend his titles against New Zealand's Joseph Parker.
This isn't just another title defense: it's the fight boxing purists have been craving.
The directive comes hot on the heels of Usyk's spectacular fifth-round demolition of Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on July 19.
The 38-year-old Ukrainian southpaw knocked down the British challenger twice in the fifth round, cementing his status as a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion with a vicious left hook he aptly named 'Ivan."
But before Usyk can even think about retirement or trilogy fights with Tyson Fury, Parker stands firmly at the front of the queue.
The Mandatory Maze
The WBO has given both camps 30 days to negotiate terms, or face purse bid proceedings with a minimum bid of $1 million. This isn't merely bureaucratic formality—Parker has been the interim WBO heavyweight champion since defeating Zhilei Zhang in March 2024. The New Zealander has his turn while watching Usyk dismantle the division's elite.
Parker's Resurrection Story
What makes this matchup compelling isn't just Parker's mandatory status, it's his remarkable career renaissance. After suffering a devastating knockout loss to Joe Joyce in September 2022, many wrote off the former WBO champion.
Instead, Parker embarked on a six-fight winning streak that reads like a heavyweight who's found his second wind.
His victories over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole have repositioned him as the division's most in-form contender behind Usyk.
At 36-3 with 24 knockouts, Parker brings legitimate credentials and, crucially, represents the only top-tier heavyweight Usyk hasn't faced.
Styles Make Fights
This potential clash promises tactical intrigue. Parker has evolved from the cautious boxer-mover of his first championship reign into a more aggressive, ring-generalship fighter under Andy Lee's guidance.
His recent performances suggest a fighter who's learned to blend his natural boxing ability with increased aggression: a combination that could trouble Usyk's rhythm.
Usyk's technical mastery remains unquestioned. His 24-0 record includes dominant victories over every elite heavyweight of his era. Yet Parker represents a stylistic puzzle: mobile enough to avoid prolonged punishment, durable enough to survive Usyk's combinations, and experienced enough not to wilt under championship pressure.
The Bigger Picture
While Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh reportedly favors other matchups, particularly against rising star Moses Itauma, the WBO's mandate strips away promotional politics. This fight represents boxing at its purest: the best facing the next best, regardless of commercial considerations.
Usyk has hinted at having perhaps one more fight after any Parker encounter, making this potentially the penultimate chapter in one of boxing's greatest heavyweight careers. For Parker, it's validation of his rebuild and a chance to achieve what Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Daniel Dubois couldn't—solving the Ukrainian puzzle.
The countdown has begun, and for once, the heavyweight division's future feels refreshingly straightforward.
First Published:
July 25, 2025, 11:15 IST
News sports Usyk V. Parker Soon? 30 Days To Find Out…
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