Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk may lose his status as the ultimate king of the division once more, having been hit with a definitive ultimatum this evening.
A former undisputed cruiserweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk made history earlier this summer, scoring the undisputed heavyweight crown for the second time with a devastating knockout of Daniel Dubois.
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And sidelined in the time since through a niggling back injury, the Ukrainian had been most heavily tied to a title fight with interim WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.
However, with the Kiwi puncher now booking his return next month, Usyk has been slapped with an ultimatum regarding his return to the ring.
Oleksandr Usyk ordered to fight WBO titleholder in boxing return
Requesting an extension on negotiations to secure a title defense against Parker, Usyk has been ordered to fight the WBO titleholder in his immediate return to the ring by the governing body’s president.
In a release this evening following the booking of Parker’s title fight with WBA interim champion Fabio Wardley, Gustavo Olivieri revealed Usyk has been ordered to fight the WBO champion in his return.
“(Oleksandr) Usyk must face the WBO Interim Champion next, without any intervening bouts; (iv) That failure to comply will trigger the immediate enforcement of all applicable WBO Rules and Regulations,” Olivieri posted on X.
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However, amid this order from the WBO, Usyk has been urged by a veteran promoter to delay any sort of potential retirement to book a fight with another Oceanic star.
Oleksandr Usyk backed to fight Jai Opetaia before retirement
Taking out the who’s who of the heavyweight limit including the above-mentioned Dubois and both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in a pair of fights against both, Usyk is quickly running out of contenders at the weight class.
However, as far as Matchroom Boxing leader Eddie Hearn is concerned, Usyk should likely delay any potential hanging up of his gloves to grant knockout ace Jai Opetaia a title opportunity — especially if the Wyong native can capture undisputed cruiserweight gold.
“People keep talking about Jai (Opetaia) moving to heavyweight, and I think he should,” Hearn told The Stomping Ground. “And I think he will. But, he’s got so much more to do and give at cruiserweight.
“…Then if he can become undisputed cruiserweight champion, I think he can fight (Oleksandr) Usyk,” Hearn continued. “What a fight that is. The undisputed heavyweight world champion versus the undisputed cruiserweight world champion.”