Tony Bellew Speaks On Oleksandr Usyk Vs. Joseph Parker Fight

Heavyweight title-holder Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered by the WBO to start talks for a mandatory title defence against Joseph Parker. The Ukrainian boxer is the unified WBO, WBA and WBC world titlist and now has 30 days to negotiate with Parker for a mandatory shot at his title. The WBO has ordered for the bout, which in case they fail to agree on terms, the fight will go to purse bids.

"The parties have 30 days 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," read a statement from WBO.

The announcement isn’t favorable for Usyk owing to his desire to own all four belts in the division once more. Therefore, if he can’t reach an agreement with Parker, then there will now be at least one more bout before the undisputed fight.

"Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee is hereby ordering the commencement of negotiations between to discharge the WBO mandatory championship obligation in the heavyweight division," the order said.

The ordering of this match is a boost for Parker, though, who is on a solid run of victories having thrashed Martin Bakole, Zhilei Zhang alongside Deontay Wilder in his last three. The former WBO titlist is, in several people’s radar, well justified of another shot at a world crown.

"By virtue of this order, the WBO Interim Championship shall be terminated expeditiously in compliance with our institutional policy of only one world champion per weight class,” the statement read in part.

Usyk floored Britain’s Tyson Fury in May 2024 to become the first undisputed world heavyweight record-holder in almost 25 years. Though, he vacated his IBF title before the rematch, with Dubois elevated to full champion.

Moreover, Usyk, 38, who is a former undisputed world cruiserweight titlist prolonged his flawless professional record to 23 victories in as several fights, with 14 stoppages, after conquering Fury in a rematch in December that implied, he retained the unified WBC, WBA and WBO championships.

Elsewhere, IBF title-holder Dubois was booked to face Parker in a world title defence in February, yet he was forced to back-off after falling ill. Thus, the New Zealander-Parker retained his WBO interim belt and waited patiently in line for a shot instead at Usyk.

Usyk is hoping to have just a handful of matches before retiring from the sport, naming his two-fight plan as a clash with Dubois, who while he was speaking immediately after being declared the winner by unanimous decision, entered the ring and interrupted the London 2012 gold medallist’s interview to demand a fight.

In a new post on X, former world titleholder Bellew disclosed he is one of those people who support Parker to go for Usyk.

“They threw Joseph Parker to the wolves time after time and each time he came back leading the pack. After the problem with the Dubois fight he could have just waited and moved on but he didn’t! He fought the problem once again! FINALLY he’s been rewarded! Very well deserved in my honest opinion. [Well done] WBO for doing the right thing!” he posted on social media.

Also, Parker’s sometime gym mate and friend Tyson Fury, who has twice been beaten by Usyk, has also expressed contentment for the New Zealander.