The WBO has mandated heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) to take on interim titleholder Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) next. Both fighters have 30 days to negotiate a deal before a purse bid is initiated by the sanctioning body.

Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk ordered by the WBO to begin negotiations with Joseph Parker for a mandatory title defence.

Parker retained his interim title in February with a KO victory over Martin Bakole. The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has ordered negotiations to begin between heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker for a mandatory defense of the belt.