Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight world champion, has mentioned Laaulialemalietoa Lupesoliai Joseph Parker as a potential next opponent, but Parker’s manager says Joseph is the WBO mandatory challenger and the sanctioning body should take action if the fight is not announced soon.
Usyk beat Daniel Dubois for a second time infront of 90,000 people at Wembley Stadium this morning, producing a brutal fifth-round knockout to retain his WBA, WBC and WBO belts and regain the IBF belt he relinquished just over a year ago.
Moments after he become the undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time, the 38-year-old Ukranian, who many believed would retire after conquering the world yet again, said stopping was not on his agenda, and listed four names for his next fight.
“Thirty-eight is a young guy, remember,” he said in the ring. “Thirty-eight is only the start..
“Next, I don’t know. I want to rest… I want to go home to my family, my wife and children..
“Maybe Tyson Fury, maybe Derek Chisora, maybe Anthony Joshua, maybe Joseph Parker.”
Lupesoliai Laaulialemalietoa Joseph Parker, 33, is a former world champion, and the mandatory challenger of the WBO belt – one of several that Usyk holds.
But such are the twists and turns of professional boxing that nothing is guaranteed.
Parker was lined up to fight Dubois in Riyadh in February only for the Englishman to pull out on the eve of the bout due to a conveniently-timed illness after having a conversation with Usyk, so no one on his team is sure about what will happen next.
Parker’s manager David Higgins told 1News: “Our team thought it was great that Joseph was mentioned but at the same time Joseph is the mandatory challenger with the WBO.
“He’s earned it on merit and waited a long time. A couple of the names [Usyk] mentioned he’s already beaten twice..
“In our view it’s a bit silly fighting someone he’s already beaten twice..
Higgins says the sanctioning body should step in if Usyk refuses to confirm a fight with the Samoan champion.
“On paper Joseph is the WBO mandatory challenger… in practice we hope he does [fight Parker] and if he doesn’t, we’d hope the sanctioning body would strip the title or the title is vacated.”
Parker is ready and posted on his socials after the Usyk-Dubois fight to congratulate the world champion with a “see you soon”.
There is a also a humorous jab at being ready to take on the Champ blindfolded.
“Blindfolded or not, I am ready to take on the Undisputed Heavyweight Champ after July 19th 🥊” posted Parker.
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