Oleksandr Usyk, the undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion, has a big decision to make. The World Boxing Organization (WBO) told Usyk on Thursday that he must defend his heavyweight belt against Joseph Parker. This order puts Usyk's plans for a third fight with Tyson Fury at risk.
Usyk, at 38 years old, doesn't show any signs of slowing down. He's still hungry for more after his recent knockout win over Daniel Dubois. Everyone thought his next fight would be the trilogy with Fury, but now that's not so certain.
The WBO gave Usyk and Parker 30 days to work out a deal. If they can't agree, they'll move on to purse bids. Parker, the mandatory challenger, is a great fighter in his prime. A win over him would make Usyk's legacy even stronger.
This isn't the first time Usyk has faced this kind of situation. Last summer, the IBF told him to fight Filip Hrgovic. Usyk decided not to and focused on his rematch with Fury instead. The IBF took away his title, but Usyk got it back when he beat Dubois.
Now, Usyk has to choose. He can either fight Parker or ignore the WBO's order. Meanwhile, Fury might end up fighting Anthony Joshua if he decides to come out of retirement.
"Usyk is a legend of the sport," said boxing analyst John Smith. "He's achieved so much already, but he's still pushing for more. This fight with Parker could be another great moment in his career."
Whatever Usyk decides, fans are eager to see what happens next in the heavyweight division.
