Usyk vs. Parker on the Cards, If Joshua Vacates the WBO Belt

by Denis Metev
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Oleksandr Usyk may fight Joseph Parker, should the current holder of the WBO title Anthony Joshua decide to fight for the IBF title.

Joshua currently holds the IBF, WBO, WBA, and IBO titles. He needs to have a mandatory defense of two of his titles – the IBF and WBO versions. However, he cannot defend them both and it seems he will have to vacate one of them.

Usyk is number 1 contender for WBO

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk is the top contender to face the champion for the WBO title. It seems very likely that Joshua will choose to fight the IBF main contender – Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev. In such circumstances, Usyk will face New Zealand fighter Joseph Parker for the vacant belt.

“Anthony Joshua now holds the WBO belt, and he needs to make the defense according to two versions – WBO and IBF. If the Briton chooses the defense of the IBF title (a duel with Bulgarian Kurbat Pulev), it is likely that WBO will make its belt vacant,” a report said.

It’s worth mentioning that Eddie Hearn is the promoter of all three boxers involved – Joshua, Usyk, and Parker, so it will not be that difficult to agree on a unification clash.

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