03/10/2025
Photo Credit: Riyadh Season
Oleksandr Usyk will have the opportunity to reclaim the undisputed heavyweight title—if he chooses to do so. WBO President Gustavo Olivieri clarified the organization’s stance on the matter in a recent interview with Brunch Boxing that the organization will not obstruct a unification fight between Usyk and IBF champion Daniel Dubois.
“If Usyk would like to unify with Dubois, the WBO under my presidency will not prevent unifications,” Olivieri stated. “To the opposite. That’s what best serves all the interests of boxing and all the stakeholders, including the fighters themselves, who are the protagonists of the event. If that’s what the parties want to do, they want to unify, we will give it the blessing.”
Usyk became the undisputed heavyweight champion in May 2024 when he defeated Tyson Fury in a historic clash. He relinquished his IBF title in order to fulfill his contractual rematch obligation with Fury. As a result, the IBF elevated former Usyk opponent Daniel Dubois to heavyweight champion, while Usyk retained the WBO, WBC, and WBA titles.
With the WBO’s blessing, the decision largely rests in Usyk’s hands. The Ukrainian star must determine whether he wants to pursue a fight with Dubois to regain undisputed status or fulfill his obligations to face his WBO mandatory challenger, Joseph Parker.
Photo Credit: Riyadh Season
Parker, the former WBO heavyweight champion, put himself in position for another title opportunity by successfully defending his Interim WBO Heavyweight Championship. The New Zealand native defeated Martin Bakole on the February 22, Riyadh Season event.
Olivieri acknowledged Parker’s position but made it clear that the situation is fluid and dependent on Usyk’s decision.
“If they don’t unify, I will need to order the mandatory, which is Joseph Parker,” Olivieri explained. “But that remains to be seen. In the next couple of weeks, I should have more definitive information as to what will be the next course of action in the heavyweight division. But if a mandatory would be called per the rotation system, then it will be the WBO next in line.”
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