Although undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk was immediately ordered to make a mandatory WBO title defense against Joseph Parker following his latest knockout win over Daniel Dubois, Usyk and his team have not yet shown any inclination to follow through with any negotiations to stage the bout.
The WBO would give Usyk 30 days from July 24 to reach terms with Parker for the fight before ordering the bout to a purse bid, but thus far no one from Usyk’s team has engaged Parker’s side at all
as related by promoter David Higgins.
“Last time I spoke to Frank Warren [who promotes Parker in the UK] there had been no engagement. That is what I was told, a couple of days ago,” Higgins told Sky Sports. “It’s boxing, anything can happen. You don’t rule anything in or out really, but I think Usyk would have engaged by now in a discussion or a negotiation if he wanted to retain and defend his undisputed heavyweight world titles.”
Higgins had previously stated that he was hopeful of Parker getting at shot at Usyk before the year is out and while he still may hold out some hope, it looks like that hope is diminishing at a rapid rate with each passing day, especially with Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh openly dismissing any interest in that fight while likely offering Usyk more money elsewhere.
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