Oleksandr Usyk vs. Joseph Parker: No Contact from WBO Champion’s Camp, Leaving Mandatory Fight in Doubt

Joseph Parker’s manager, David Higgins, says there’s been no contact made by WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to begin negotiations for the WBO-ordered fight.

No Usyk Contact Made

It’s questionable whether Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) will choose to defend his WBO title against Parker. The chances of the fight happening dimmed with the report that Turki Alalshikh is not interested in backing the fight. Without his financing, the chances of Usyk agreeing to face Parker are slim. It would be a bizarre move if he chose to fight him because it doesn’t pay.

Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) earned the mandatory spot to challenge Usyk by stopping Martin Bakole in the second round last February. Last month, the WBO ordered Oleksandr to begin talks with Parker on July 24th, giving them 30 days to negotiate a deal.

“Last time I spoke to Frank Warren, there had been no engagement. You don’t rule anything in or out, 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,” said David Higgins to Sky Sports News.

Usyk May Be Stripped

Parker and Higgins should look at the bright side. Usyk will likely be stripped soon if he chooses not to fight Parker. Then the WBO will likely order Parker and the next highest-ranked contender to fight for the vacant belt. That would be one of these three:

1. Moses Itauma
2. Filip Hrgovic
3. Zhilei Zhang

It’s not ideal for Parker to have to fight one of those guys for the WBO belt, but at least he would be getting a shot. After all, isn’t the title what Parker is interested in? If it’s just the money, he should go in another direction, as there are no opportunities here for him.

Respecting Merit-Based Boxing

“I’m hopeful that the merit-based system is respected and the man who has genuinely earned a shot at a world heavyweight title is allowed to have that title shot, because it has been earned the hard way, the old school way, with consecutive victories over monumental opposition,” said Higgins.