On July 19 at Wembley Stadium in England, the unified WBC, WBO and WBA world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and IBF titlist Daniel Dubois will fight for all the belts in the first-ever undisputed heavyweight contest to take place on UK soil, broadcast live on DAZN.
Despite the stadium fight still being over two months away, it has now been revealed exactly who the winner will be forced to fight next.
WBO President, Gustavo Olivieri, stated, “We made a decision that serves the interests of boxing and the fighters themselves.
“After the unification fight, [Joseph] Parker will receive the first right to a title fight.”
New Zealand’s Parker was due to fight for Dubois’ IBF title in February, but the Brit was forced to pull out on fight week with an illness.
The 33-year-old former WBO heavyweight champion fought Martin Bakole instead and KO’d him in two to win the WBO Interim title.
Boxing fans around the world have been calling for the likeable fighter to be given his long-awaited world title shot and now it appears to be certified.
However, Usyk and Dubois have to settle their differences in their summer rematch first.
They already fought, in August 2023, with the Ukrainian dropping the Brit twice to win in the ninth round.
Since then, Usyk was crowned undisputed by defeating Tyson Fury twice, and Dubois became the IBF world heavyweight champion after Usyk relinquished the title last year.
When the pair lock horns again, Dubois will certainly be improved since their first meeting, but whether it’s enough to topple a two-weight undisputed pound-for-pound star is yet to be seen.
Regardless of the outcome, a relieved Joseph Parker will be training hard with Andy Lee for his chance to fight for the undisputed championship next.
