Key Takeaways:

• The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has ordered Oleksandr Usyk to start negotiations for a mandatory title defense against Joseph Parker.
• Usyk, the heavyweight champion, holds three major titles: WBC, WBA, and WBO.
• Parker recently won a match against Martin Bakole, positioning himself as Usyk's next contender.
• If negotiations fail, the WBO will initiate purse bids for the fight.
• This decision complicates possible future negotiations for Usyk and Daniel Dubois, who were previously in talks for a title bout.

LONDON: The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has mandated Oleksandr Usyk, the reigning world heavyweight champion from Ukraine, to commence negotiations with New Zealand's Joseph Parker for a mandatory title defense. This development arrives as Usyk, 38, seeks to maintain his hold on the WBC, WBA, and WBO belts following his victories over Britain's Tyson Fury.

Parker, who once held the WBO title from 2016 to 2018, recently regained form by defeating Martin Bakole with a second-round stoppage for the WBO Interim belt according to Channel News Asia. The WBO has stipulated that both fighters' management teams have 30 days to finalize terms. If they fail to do so, the committee will call for purse bid proceedings as per its regulations.

However, this decision could put a damper on the anticipated rematch between Usyk and Britain’s Daniel Dubois, who had earlier expressed a desire to challenge Usyk after partner discussions fell through when Dubois had to withdraw from a previous match due to illness. Dubois has also been in discussion with Usyk’s management for a potential bout that would unify the heavyweight titles reported Al Jazeera.

As negotiations move forward, Usyk's camp, led by manager Alex Krassyuk, has indicated that venues like Wembley are being considered for the potential fight. The announcement from the WBO, dated March 13, complicates the landscape of heavyweight boxing, especially given Usyk's history and recent performances, which have kept his perfect record intact according to Reuters.