Oleksandr Usyk cannot call himself the biggest heavyweight boxer in his era before fighting and beating Joseph Parker, insists on Kiwi’s promoter David Higgins.
Usyk became a three-time undisputed champion of the world and two-time undisputed heavyweight champion on Saturday as he knocked Daniel Dubois out in the fifth round to rule the top at Wembley.
During the construction of the event, Usyk had suggested that he probably had two more matches left in his career. If the first one was Dubois who will be the second?
In a speech in the ring, the Ukrainian Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua flooded, both of whom have beaten twice, as well as Derek Chisora and Parker as potential next opponents.
“The whole world will see parks fight for a world title,” Parker’s promoter told higgins to Sky Sports.
“He has been in line for a long time. He is a Frontrunner. He is mandatory with WBO. It’s nice to hear Frank Warren say park next. It’s great to hear experts like Lennox Lewis say park next.
“I think it would be a outrage if he didn’t get the shot. It’s not really fair.”
The 38-year-old Usyk delivered another Masterclass on British soil to interrupt the dreams of his younger rival, who had sought revenge for his first knockout loss to the former Olympic champion back in August 2023.
Dubois had been because of defending his IFB belt against parks earlier this year before pulling out during the fighting week due to illness.
Parker subsequently struck out too late replacement Martin Bakole to follow up wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang to keep him on course for another world’s titled shot.
“He is the No. 1 competitor, the mandatory for WBO and WBO has ordered the winner to fight Joseph, that is my understanding,” continued higgins.
“In Joseph Parker you now have a veteran who has fought names like Joshua, he has beaten guys like Andy Ruiz, Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, Bakole recently. He has beaten them all.
“And then, if Oleksandr Usyk would really claim to be the biggest heavy weight in this era, he also has to beat Joseph Parker. And he hasn’t fought for him yet.
“I think it would be silly to go into battle guys he’s already beaten. When parks sitting there on number 1.”
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Highlights of Joseph Parker’s spectacular knockout victory against Martin Bakole.
Fury recently expressed his intention to meet Usyk in a trilogy match in 2026 after having a bit of back-to-back defeat to the undefeated champion in 2024.
But a long queue to challenge Usyk has formed, as it seems to be in the form of parks.
“Joseph is ready,” Higgins said. “He boxes to win the world’s title, the overall world title, that’s his goal.
“He’s already beaten a lot of top guys, but he would enjoy and jump by an opportunity to fight for that title. So if it was offered at the end of the year, great. If it was next year, I’m sure he would look at it, he would jump on it.
“He’s gone in the ring with formidable, feared opponents like the sub -dog, guys that other people are afraid of fighting. Joseph is getting better and better every fight.
“He is not at all exaggerated. He would support himself to beat Oleksandr.”