The status of absolute champion will take precedence over mandatory defense
Oleksandr Usyk, Daniel Dubois, photo – Getty Images
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has officially confirmed that it has received a petition to allow WBC, IBO, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) to fight in his next unification bout with IBF champion Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs).
“There is a petition in the Championship Committee asking to consider a unification fight between Usyk and Dubois to consolidate the heavyweight championship titles. Therefore, we will publicly announce our official decision on these issues, including the mandatory status of Joseph Parker, at a later date,” WBO President Gustavo Olivieri said.
At the end of February, Usyk confirmed his desire to hold his next fight against IBF world champion Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs), who had previously challenged Alexander to a rematch, and become the absolute champion again. It was reported that this fight could take place in July-August 2025.
Dubois himself recently confirmed once again that he intends to meet Usyk in his next fight. The Briton announced that their likely fight is being prepared for July at Wembley Stadium.
At the same time, the WBO has officially determined that the Ukrainian will defend his championship belt. The Ukrainian's opponent should be WBO champion Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs). Refusal to fight could result in Oleksandr losing his WBO championship belt, but Usyk has options to avoid this. One of them is an official request to the WBO to postpone the fight.
Usyk fought Dubois in August 2023. In the fifth round, the Briton hit Alexander with a low blow, for which he received a fine. In the ninth round, the Ukrainian knocked Daniel out. Dubois later said that he was “robbed” and that the referee was obliged to record a knockout in the fifth round.
The Ukrainian, we recall, had his last fight in December – he won his second victory in a year over the Briton Tyson Fury (by unanimous decision of the judges) and retained the title of world champion according to the WBC, IBO, WBA and WBO versions in the heavyweight division. After that, in February, Usyk announced that he would have no more than two fights before ending his career.