Heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk dismissed Joseph Parker’s challenge as he set his sights on a different opponent.
Parker stopped Martin Bakole in Saudi Arabia within two rounds to become the mandatory challenger for Usyk’s WBO title.
The New Zealander had been lined up to fight IBF titleholder Dubois, but the British fighter dropped out last Thursday due to illness. Despite the possibility of rescheduling the bout with Dubois, Parker aimed higher after his win against Bakole, expressing his desire to face the world’s number one heavyweight.
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“Who’s next? Can I fight for the world title next? If Usyk wants a dance partner, I’d like to fight for the world title,” he said post-fight.
However, Usyk, who was present at the Riyadh show, declared his preference for Dubois as he aims to re-unify the four major heavyweight championships. He said via Boxing King: “I want the next fight with Daniel Dubois, undisputed.”
When questioned about the potential venue for their rematch, the Ukrainian said: “London, Riyadh Season, doesn’t matter.” He even entertained the thought of fighting at Wembley Stadium, with its near 100,000 boxing capacity, adding confidently: “Yeah, yeah. I’m ready, bro.”
With Dubois currently unburdened by any mandatory defence obligations for his IBF belt, he is free to choose his next opponent, potentially setting the stage for a rematch with Usyk. Their previous encounter in Poland in 2023 ended with Usyk claiming a contentious ninth-round stoppage victory.
Meanwhile, Dubois is set to suffer a “massive financial loss” after pulling out of the Parker fight. His promoter, Frank Warren, said: “If you don’t fight, you don’t get paid; imagine the cost of a training camp, booking places, setting the camp up, bringing the sparring partners in, nutritionists, chefs, trainers, and you don’t get paid.
“It’s a massive loss, you can’t insure it, if you do it costs a fortune to insure. It was an unbelievable purse he was getting for the fight but we are where we are: if you’re not well, you can’t fight.”
“I’m always telling the fighters I don’t want to hear after the event if anything goes wrong that you had a bad hand, or a cold, or your budgie died – none of that matters, you live to fight another day.”
