Plans for Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois 2 have now been put in jeopardy thanks to a new ruling from the WBO.
It’s safe to say that the majority of boxing fans around the world had been predicting that the re-surging Briton would finally get his chance to rematch Oleksandr Usyk sometime in 2025.
Unfortunately for Daniel Dubois, those predictions are starting to be thrown out the window (at least for now) as the World Boxing Organization orders ‘The Cat’ to move in a different direction.
WBO order heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk to face Joseph Parker next
On Wednesday, the WBO officially ordered a mandatory contest for the heavyweight championship between Ukrainian hero Oleksandr Usyk and fan favorite former champion, Joseph Parker.
According to the order posted to the WBO website, both parties now have 30 days to reach terms; failure to reach any agreement will result in the WBO moving forward with purse bids.
Joseph Parker claimed the interim WBO heavyweight title with a decision win over Zhilei Zhang last March, before defending his interim belt via a second-round knockout of Martin Bakole earlier this year.
Oleksandr Usyk currently holds the WBO, WBA, and WBC heavyweight titles, while Daniel Dubois retained the IBF title after withdrawing from his scheduled clash with Parker in February.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the WBO order was made public, Joseph Parker’s promoter David Higgins teased that the Kiwi would accept the bout against Usyk ‘in a heartbeat’.
“We have no idea whether or not it will happen next. But I can tell you this; I’ve spoken to Joseph Parker today and he would love to fight for a world title… He will fight anyone, anywhere for a world title.
“That’s his goal, to fight for a world title. Joseph is patiently waiting, keeping fit, and if an opportunity comes to fight for a title, he would love to grab it… We’d take it in a heartbeat.”
Oleksandr Usyk warned against facing Daniel Dubois again
This new order from the WBO has certainly jeopardized the rematch between Usyk and Dubois, which was expected to be made next, had Dubois beaten Parker out in Riyadh last month.
Usyk bested Dubois in August 2023, despite a controversial ending that divided fans, and the Ukrainian has already been warned about facing ‘Dynamite’ a second time.
Speaking with Seconds Out, fellow heavyweight contender Johnny Fisher argued that should Usyk vs Dubois 2 be made later this year, the British juggernaut would claim the undisputed crown via KO.
“I think Dubois can stop him, he stopped him last time, that body shot I’ve seen given 100 times over before. I’ve got a huge admiration for Oleksandr Usyk, probably the best of our generation, but if there’s one man who’s gonna stop Usyk now after he’s gone through Joshua and Fury, Dubois is the final man and as a Great Brit, I’ll be backing Daniel Dubois every step of the way.
“Dubois is a different animal than what he was 18 months ago, I was sparring him 18 months ago and he’s come on leaps and bounds since then… I think he could be the favorite going into that fight.”
A reminder that aside from Usyk, Dubois, and Parker – there’s also WBA Regular champion Kubrat Pulev and WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel in the title mix… The round-robin continues.