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Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered by the WBO to face New Zealander Joseph Parker in a mandatory heavyweight title defence.
The Ukrainian was crowned undisputed world heavyweight champion on Sunday (AEST) after beating Daniel Dubois in a fifth-round stoppage at Wembley Stadium.
The victory, sealed when he left the Briton on the canvas with a left-handed punch, secured a 24th professional win for the undefeated 38-year-old, who won back his IBF belt and added it to WBA, WBC and WBO titles.
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Usyk puts Dubois down then OUT in 5th | 01:09
After becoming undisputed world heavyweight champion for a second time, Usyk mentioned Parker as a possible future opponent.
On Thursday, a letter from the WBO ordered negotiations to take place between Usyk and Parker for a mandatory heavyweight title bout.
Both fighters have 30 days to reach terms otherwise purse bid proceedings will be ordered.
Parker defended his WBO interim title in Riyadh in February with a second-round stoppage against Martin Bakole, a late replacement for Dubois who withdrew due to illness.
The New Zealand fighter had previously held the WBO title from 2016 to 2018 and is on a six-fight winning streak since losing to Joe Joyce in 2022.
Many consider Parker most deserving of the next shot at Usyk however his trainer Andy Lee says the Kiwi fighter is not in a tricky position as Usyk weighs up his next move.
“We’ll see how this all plays out and what Usyk decides to do,” Lee told The Ariel Helwani Show.
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“He’s probably seven months away from fighting. Joe hasn’t fought since February. He needs a fight, Joseph.
“When he’s active, he’s at his best. But who is his next opponent? Fighting [Agit] Kabayel? They’re both great fighters, but it’s a huge risk for both because of the positions they’re in.”
German Kabayel is ranked No.1 with the WBC.
“These guys are in position but there are huge risks in taking a fight at this stage when you could be in line for a title fight,” Lee said.
Usyk also named Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua — fighters he has beaten twice each — as possible next opponents after the win, while he somewhat-bizarrely also engaged in face-off with former YouTube star Jake Paul.