Derek thinks Alexander should fight Joseph Parker
Alexander Usik, photo – Getty Images
Mandatory challenger for the IBF heavyweight title Dereck Chisora (36-13, 23 KOs) believes that there is no point in Ukrainian WBC, IBO, WBA and WBO heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) fighting IBF belt holder Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs).
“Look, I don't see the point of Daniel and Alexander fighting right now. What are they going to fight for? Alexander already stopped him.”
“If Usyk wants to prove that he is the best, he needs to defend his title against Joseph Parker. To be the best, you have to fight everyone. He boxed Tyson Fury twice, he boxed AJ twice. He boxed me once. He boxed Dubois once. So I think now he should give Joseph Parker a chance.”
Chisora has been given the status of mandatory challenger for the IBF belt, which Dubois holds. The Dubois-Chisora fight will be confirmed on April 22, and the deadline for it to take place is June 21. At the same time, Dubois' unification fight against the WBO/WBC/WBA/IBO heavyweight title holder, Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) will take precedence over the mandatory.
In turn, the WBO officially determined that Usyk will defend his championship belt. The Ukrainian's opponent should be Joseph Parker. The New Zealander has already challenged Alexander to a fight in his traditional style.
Last week, the parties were given 30 days to negotiate – if the deal is not agreed upon, the WBO will hold a promoter bid for the event. If Alexander refuses the mandatory defense, the organization reserves the right to strip Alexander of the championship belt and make it vacant.
The Ukrainian champion is considering options on how not to lose the WBO belt. The first option is a fee for Parker: the New Zealander agrees to give up his turn and goes into “waiting mode”, and only then fights the winner of the confrontation between Alexander and Daniel. However, there is another outcome: Usyk's team writes an official request to the WBO to postpone the fight.