Oleksandr Usyk, the reigning World Heavyweight Champion, has been instructed to face Joseph Parker in his next fight.
Joseph Parker could be given a chance to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Oleksandr Usyk.
According to the BBC, the WBO has ordered Usyk to enter negotiations with Parker for a mandatory title defense.
The development follows reports from Thursday that British boxer Daniel Dubois will not be rescheduling his fight with Parker. Dubois had previously pulled out of his IBF title defense against Parker in Saudi Arabia last month due to illness.
As a result, Parker was forced to step in against late replacement Martin Bakole in Riyadh, securing a knockout victory in the second round.
Usyk, who remains undefeated in 23 professional bouts, holds the WBC, WBO, and WBA titles. He made history in May of last year by defeating Tyson Fury to become boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years, the first since Lennox Lewis, and the first in the four-belt era.
