Notebook: Usyk ordered to next face Parker in WBO mandatory
'Shu Shu' finally in position he has begged for; Crocker-Donovan rematch set for vacant IBF 147 title; Zayas interview; Jalolov fight canceled; Quick hits; Show & tell
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Five days after Oleksandr Usyk delivered a tour de force in a fifth-round destruction of IBF heavyweight titlist Daniel Dubois in their rematch to once again unify the four major belts and become the undisputed heavyweight champion for a second time, the WBO on Thursday did as expected.
The organization, which is next up in the rotation system that determines the order of mandatory defenses for unified champions, ordered Usyk to next face WBO interim titlist Joseph Parker.
The WBO notified both camps that they should commence negotiations for the bout and that they have 30 days to reach an agreement. If they don’t, the WBO will schedule a purse bid.
If the fight does wind up at an auction the minimum bid is $1 million although the fight would certainly go for many millions more. Either side can ask for an immediate purse bid if they don’t want to negotiate a deal.