Joseph Parker will have to wait a little longer for his long overdue shot at the heavyweight crown.
Just how long will soon be determined by the sanctioning body who originally attempted to advance that timeline.
BoxingScene has confirmed that undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has requested a “stay of proceedings” to further delay the negotiation deadline for his mandatory clash with New Zealand’s Parker.
The two were ordered on July 23 to begin negotiations for their title consolidation clash. However, the only progress that was made thus far was Usyk’s effort to get out of the fight.
BoxingScene has learned that Usyk, 24-0 (15 KOs), the fully unified lineal, WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO heavyweight champ - has cited a lingering back injury as the basis for an exception. Additionally, the wear and tear that has come with fighting at the highest level over the past couple of years has taken its toll on the 38-year-old Ukrainian southpaw.
Parker, 36-3 (24 KOs), has held the WBO interim heavyweight title since a win over Zhilei Zhang last March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The former full WBO titleholder and current top-rated heavyweight has patiently sat back and watched Usyk enter back-to-back championship affairs with Tyson Fury and then a rematch with Daniel Dubois earlier this summer.
Usyk defeated Fury via split decision last May 18 in Riyadh to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the 21st century. The two agreed to a rematch, at the cost of Usyk vacating his IBF belt in lieu of a title consolidation clash with Dubois, 22-3 (21 KOs). Usyk once again beat Fury, this time by unanimous decision last December 21, also in Riyadh.
A chance to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion – and add a third overall undisputed reign, including cruiserweight – led Usyk to once again face Dubois earlier this summer. According to recent heavyweight boxing news, Dubois was upgraded to full IBF titlist from interim beltholder last summer, a designation he validated with a fifth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua on September 21 in North London.
Usyk originally dethroned Joshua to win the WBA, IBF and WBO titles in 2021. He earned a repeat win in their August 2022 rematch, followed by an August 2023 ninth-round knockout of Dubois before his pair of lucrative championship affairs with Fury.
The opportunity to once again fully unify the major titles led to an Usyk-Dubois rematch on July 19, won by Usyk via fifth-round knockout at Wembley Stadium. The bout was his third in 14 months, the most active he’s been since 2018.
Parker has fought just once since his win over Zhang.
Ironically, it came on a night when he was supposed to challenge for Dubois’ IBF belt at the time. Parker was even willing to risk his guaranteed WBO title shot for the occasion. However, Dubois withdrew less than 48 hours from their scheduled February 22 clash in Riyadh, citing a sudden illness late into fight week.
Parker went on to face Martin Bakole, whom he blasted out inside of two rounds.
The WBO didn’t waste any time after Usyk entered his third undisputed championship reign, as he was summoned just four days later to next face Parker.
His request for an extension will be fielded by the WBO Championship Committee. While a delay could very well be approved, Usyk is out of wiggle room to face anyone else next beside Parker if he wants to keep his undisputed reign intact.
In that vein, Parker’s next fight is guaranteed to come with the full version of the WBO title at stake – with or without Usyk in the opposite corner.
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Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.
