Oleksandr Usyk makes Joseph Parker fight request after suffering injury
Oleksandr Usyk has requested an extension on the negotiations for his mandatory fight with Joseph Parker, according to the Kiwi’s promoter, Frank Warren.
On July 27, the WBO ordered Usyk to defend his undisputed heavyweight crown against the major sanctioning body’s interim champion, Parker.
READ: After Devastating KO Loss To Oleksandr Usyk, Daniel Dubois And
“He (Usyk) put a letter in yesterday stating that he’s asked him for an extension period, because he’s injured, before being ordered to do anything,” Warren told Sky Sports.
“Whatever happens, the fact of life is Joseph Parker will either fight as champion if Usyk vacates or he will fight Usyk for the title…
“His camp have written asking for a period of time before he has to defend the title.
“We’ll see what happens, and the WBO will put a statement out on this today or tomorrow.
“I’ve been informally told what the position is. The most important thing is to focus on Saturday, it’s a very important fight.”
What will happen if Oleksandr Usyk refuses to fight Joseph Parker?
Should Usyk choose to relinquish his belt rather than fight Parker, then the expectation is that the New Zealander will be upgraded to full world champion.
If this does happen, then Moses Itauma and Dillian Whyte’s domestic dust-up this weekend will become all the more important.
At present, Itauma is ranked No.1 by the WBO, meaning whoever emerges victorious will be the frontrunner to fight Parker for the red and gold strap.
Parker was denied a shot at the IBF heavyweight title in February after former champion Daniel Dubois pulled out of their fight due to illness.
The 33-year-old was then forced to step aside to allow Usyk and Dubois to face each other in a four-belt shootout at Wembley Stadium in July.
The Ukrainian subsequently knocked out Dubois in the fifth round to add the final piece of the undisputed puzzle, the IBF belt, to his collection.
And now Parker is on the verge of fighting the pound-for-pound king for all the marbles should everything go to plan.
