Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is ready to face the WBO’s interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.
The WBO has ordered negotiations for a bout between its interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker and the unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, the ruling physique has stated.
Each events have 30 days to agree on phrases for a compulsory defence of Usyk’s title, and in the event that they fail to take action, the WBO will open a handbag bid.
“The minimal bid within the Heavyweight division is a million {dollars} … any of the events herein could request purse bid proceedings at any time throughout negotiation phases,” the WBO stated in an announcement on Thursday.
Usyk has held the WBO belt since 2021, when he gained it from Anthony Joshua together with the WBA and IBF titles, and has defended it 4 instances, additionally taking the WBC belt from Tyson Fury to change into the unified champion.
The undefeated Ukrainian vacated the IBF belt final 12 months after opting to not face the sanctioning physique’s interim champion Daniel Dubois in favour of a rematch with Fury, which he gained by unanimous determination in December.
Usyk, 38, knocked out Dubois on Saturday to regain the IBF belt and undisputed standing.
New Zealand’s Parker gained the interim WBO championship final 12 months in a majority determination over Zhilei Zhang. He defended it in February, knocking out Martin Bakole.