Oleksandr Usyk’s WBO mandatory revealed to deal Daniel Dubois huge blow over rematch
Joseph Parker has been installed as the WBO heavyweight mandatory challenger with Oleksandr Usyk ordered to begin negotiations.
The unbeaten Ukrainian has been expected to enter rematch talks with Daniel Dubois over an undisputed bout in the UK.
Usyk stopped 'Dynamite' in their August 2023 dust-up in Poland in the ninth round - but the fight wasn't without controversy after Dubois' knockdown of The Cat was ruled as a low blow.
And it seems like the Londoner, who holds the IBF strap, will have to wait some more in his quest to exact revenge on the WBA, WBO and IBF king.
Parker has held the WBO interim strap since beating Zhilei Zhang in March 2024.
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He has already help the full WBO belt between 2016-2018 as he looks to become a two-time world champion.
The New Zealand native had been scheduled to face Dubois for the IBF title last time out - only for his rival to pull out on fight week due to illness.
It led Parker to face heavy-hitting Martin Bakole in Saudi Arabia last month instead, where he brutally knocked him out in the second round.
Usyk got a first-hand look at the 33-year-old in Riyadh, with his stunned reaction to the stoppage there for all to see.
The former undisputed cruiserweight champion is currently enjoying some downtime following back-to-back points victories over Tyson Fury.
But he knows he must be at his best if he wishes to prevail against Parker, who looks a boxer transformed since his KO defeat to Joe Joyce in September 2022.
"But I can tell you this. I've spoken to Joseph Parker today and he would love to fight for a world title.
"He will fight anyone, anywhere for a world title. That's his goal, to fight for a world title.