The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) on Thursday ordered reigning world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to commence negotiations for a mandatory title defence against Joseph Parker, Afrosport reports.
Usyk and Parker have 30 days to finalise an agreement for the mandatory defence, or the WBO will order purse bid proceedings.
The 38-year-old Ukrainian is the reigning WBC and WBA (Super) heavyweight champion, clinching the titles following back-to-back wins against Tyson Fury.
New Zealand’s Parker, meanwhile, picked up the interim WBO title after a second-round knockout win against Congolese Martin Bakole in February.
“Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee is hereby ordering the commencement of negotiations between to discharge the WBO mandatory championship obligation in the heavyweight division,” an order to fighters’ promoters by the WBO chairman and founder Luis Batista Salas said.
“By virtue of this order, the WBO Interim Championship shall be terminated expeditiously in compliance with our institutional policy of only one world champion per weight class.
“The parties have 30 days to reach terms. Failure to do so will result in this committee ordering purse bid proceedings in accordance with WBO regulations of World Championship Contests.”
An undisputed title fight between Usyk and reigning IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois has been touted, with talks already taking place.
Dubois withdrew from his 22 February fight against Parker due to illness, which forced the New Zealander to fight Bakole.
Usyk is unbeaten in 23 professional fights, winning 14 by knockout, while Parker has 39 wins and three losses in his career, with 24 victories by way of knockout.
