Joseph Parker was expected to challenge Oleksandr Usyk earlier this year but instead took a back seat to Daniel Dubois, as “Dynamite” was granted a rematch against the undisputed heavyweight champion to settle the controversy from their first fight.
Usyk destroyed Dubois in the fifth frame, paving the way for Parker.
“Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee is hereby ordering the commencement of negotiations between the subject matter fighters to discharge the mandatory title defense
obligation,” wrote WBO founding President Luis Batista Salas. “By virtue of this order, the parties have thirty (30) days upon issuance of this letter to reach terms. Failure to do so will result in this committee ordering purse bid proceedings in accordance with WBO regulations of World Championship Contests.”
Tyson Fury may have something to say about that.
“The minimum bid in the Heavyweight division is one-million dollars ($1,000,000.00),” Salas continued. “Any of the parties herein may request purse bid proceedings at any time during negotiation stages. Lastly, the WBO reserves its right to issue any and all further rulings deemed necessary, helpful and convenient to accomplish the purposes, policies, and intent of the WBO rules, including but not limited to serving those interests that best serve boxing, and the WBO Heavyweight Division.”
Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) defended the WBO interim heavyweight title by defeating Martin Bakole back in February, his fifth straight victory during a run that also includes wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. As for Usyk, he remains perfect at 24-0 with 15 KOs.
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