Joseph Parker

[jamieson2]

It depends on what the WBO are willing to do
Force the JP fight
Strip Uysk if he doesn't comply and gift JP his belt - denying the Undispted tag for Uysk v DD
Force Uysk to pay JP step aside $$$$
Like everything in boxing $ talks

It depends on what Dubois wants. The WBO can't force the Parker fight if a unification is agreed to. They can't strip Usyk if a unification is agreed to. There won't be any step aside money if a unification is agreed to, because a unification takes precedence over a mandatory for the WBO. Either side can call for an immediate purse bid, unfortunately team Parker doesn't have the backing to do that. Money definitely talks & it'll ultimately come down to what the Saudi's want.

Not sure about this. If the WBO insists on JP being a mandatory with a purse bid if they don't agree...that sounds like they are specifically wanting the fight. And I'm not sure the WBO, or the IBF for that matter, want a unification vs having their own champ, especially with JP being the Interim champ.
If this doesn't come to fruition, I can see JP being next up against the DDD winner. And according to the article, DDD brings in more revenue than JP/Usyk.
If the fight does come off, JP is better or equal (power) to everything that DDD possesses against Usyk. Better movement, defense, boxing skills, and even the skip punch.

There is always a negotiation period, followed by purse bids (or extensions) if both sides can't agree. There's no reason at this stage for the WBO to strip Usyk at this stage. The IBF would probably make more from a Dubois/ Joshua rematch. Either way I see Usyk by UD.

[diehard]

Sorry, don't agree. If the WBO says JP is the mandatory, and Usyk has to fight him for the belt, the WBO would look pretty stupid to backtrack and say that the unification trumps what they've already declared in the media and to JP and Usyk.
If Usyk refuses to fight JP, of course they can strip him, and have done so before. The WBO came out and says "them's the rules we live by as the WBO." They want one champion, and want to remove JP from the Interim status (why they put him there in the first place is beyond me). It would not hurt the WBO at all to fight for a JP/Usyk clash, and if Usyk refuses, have a box-off for the title while DDD/Usyk do their thing. Or just list JP as the WBO champ by default.

[diehard]

Spanner in the works': Will the Usyk-Paker bout go ahead?

Higgins has speculated on the timing of Joseph Parker's chance to fight unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

The World Boxing Organisation has ordered Usyk to take a mandatory defence of his WBO title against Parker, which would also likely put his remaining alphabet soup of belts on the line.

The news came hours after reports of Usyk's camp negotiating for an undisputed bout with IBF champion Daniel Dubois, who allegedly pulled out of last month's fight with Parker due to illness.

Higgins told Mike Hosking that at the end of the day, who Usyk fights will be up to him.

But he says if he chooses to ignore the order by the WBO, he’ll be stripped of his title.

[jamieson2]

a unification takes precedence over a mandatory for the WBO.

Sorry, don't agree. If the WBO says JP is the mandatory, and Usyk has to fight him for the belt, the WBO would look pretty stupid to backtrack and say that the unification trumps what they've already declared in the media and to JP and Usyk.

Disagree all you want. You'll only be disagreeing with the WBO's own rules that state a unification can take precedence over a mandatory. The WBO has ordered the mandatory, they haven't said Usyk MUST fight Parker for the belt. The WBO won't look stupid & they won't be backtracking because their own rules state that a unification can take precedence over a mandatory. What the WBO have declared in the media & to Parker & Usyk is that the mandatory has been ordered.

If Usyk refuses to fight JP

No one has mentioned anything about Usyk refusing to fight Parker. That is a strawman argument you are creating that I haven't made. I stated that if a unification is agreed to it can take precedence over a mandatory.

of course they can strip him, and have done so before. The WBO came out and says "them's the rules we live by as the WBO."

The sanctioning bodies can strip a champion for numerous reasons. That doesn't disqualify the fact that their own rules state that a unification can take precedence over a mandatory. All the sanctioning bodies are not consistent at times with their own rules.

They want one champion, and want to remove JP from the Interim status (why they put him there in the first place is beyond me).

The WBO might want one champion & might want to remove Parker as interim. That doesn't disqualify the fact that their own rules state that a unification can take precedence over a mandatory.

It would not hurt the WBO at all to fight for a JP/Usyk clash, and if Usyk refuses, have a box-off for the title while DDD/Usyk do their thing. Or just list JP as the WBO champ by default.

I'm not sure if the WBO would make less in sanctioning fees for Usyk vs. Parker but I think the purses would be higher for a Usyk vs. Dubois rematch, so the WBO might get a bigger cut. Again Usyk would not be refusing to fight Parker, he would be agreeing to a unification over a mandatory. There would be no need for a box off because the WBO's rules state that a unification can take precedence over a mandatory. Titles should be won in the ring.

The question that should be being asked is: Where is Parker's promoter? Why aren't they calling for an immediate purse bid to avoid the potential of a unification being agreed to?

[diehard]

Thanks for taking the time to explain it to me, as I hadn't heard that a unification (if that's what the WBO wants) takes precedence over a mandatory.
Mr Higgins, I think, is waiting it out for a month before a purse bid, which is what the WBO said they would do. Not sure calling for an immediate purse bid would anger the WBO who are going about their time line protocols.

[jamieson2]

It's not really about what the WBO wants, if a unification agreement is reached before a Parker agreement then the WBO would need to honour it according to their own rules. They could blow off their own rules but Usyk could lawyer up & it's not worth the hassle for the WBO. The fact that team Parker hasn't called for a purse bid (the protocols state that once a mandatory is ordered, either side can call for a purse bid at any time during the negotiation period) shows exactly where Parker stands in the pecking order. Calling for an immediate purse bid wouldn't anger the WBO because it allows for it. Waiting for a month, with the possibility of an extension(s) upon request, leaves the door open for Usyk & Dubois to come to an agreement. Until a purse bid is won or a deal is reached the possibility of the unification taking precedence over the mandatory is there. And like I said previously, I think it comes down to what the Saudis really want.

[diehard]

I thought about this last nite, and my thinking was: Why would the WBO say that JP was the mandatory against Usyk if the WBO was in favour of the unification? Why not just keep their mouth shut? Given what you're saying, the WBO just muddies the waters by saying that JP is now the mandatory. And, according to your statement, and the WBO's rules, unification trumps mandatory.
I don't think it's ultimately up to the Saudis. It's up to Usyk who he wants to fight, and possible consequences if he refuses to fight JP. And, I'm wondering if the Saudis might be a bit miffed with DDD for pulling out of the JP on two days notice? While JP says, "bring on the toughest opponent to keep the integrity of the "greatest boxing card ever." And, DDD could pull out against Usyk too. Remember, he's had this "virus" off and on for 8 years according to his trainer.

And now this, which I hoped would happen if Usyk doesn't agree to fight JP.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/03/14/an-au...itle-shot/

[diehard]

https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/wh...ois/288295

[jamieson2]

I thought about this last nite, and my thinking was: Why would the WBO say that JP was the mandatory against Usyk if the WBO was in favour of the unification? Why not just keep their mouth shut? Given what you're saying, the WBO just muddies the waters by saying that JP is now the mandatory. And, according to your statement, and the WBO's rules, unification trumps mandatory.
I don't think it's ultimately up to the Saudis. It's up to Usyk who he wants to fight, and possible consequences if he refuses to fight JP. And, I'm wondering if the Saudis might be a bit miffed with DDD for pulling out of the JP on two days notice? While JP says, "bring on the toughest opponent to keep the integrity of the "greatest boxing card ever." And, DDD could pull out against Usyk too. Remember, he's had this "virus" off and on for 8 years according to his trainer.

And now this, which I hoped would happen if Usyk doesn't agree to fight JP.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/03/14/an-au...itle-shot/

I can only give my speculations on some of your questions Die, as I am not privy to the inner discussions surrounding the situation.

The WBO may have been petitioned by team Parker to enforce the mandatory. From what I’ve seen in the last 5 months since Gustavo Olivieri became the new WBO president he seems to be making decisions that seem reasonable. 

Parker won the WBO interim in March of last year, so it is not an unreasonable request. The WBO could have refused the request at this time but it looks better for them to appear to be granting reasonable requests. Granting team Parker’s request to negotiate the mandatory & announcing that they want one champion per division gives the WBO some good PR. All the while not changing anything regarding a potential Usyk vs. Dubois fight, as being a unification it would take precedence over the mandatory, unless a deal with Parker is reached beforehand.

If the Saudis throw enough money at the WBO in wanting the unification for undisputed, the WBO will bend over backwards for them & they already have their rules to allow them to do so. 

Usyk is the type of fighter who will fight any opponent but if the Saudis are bidding on Usyk vs. Dubois, I don’t think anyone would be able to match or better their offer for Usyk to fight Parker.

Now the Saudi’s might be okay with Usyk vs. Parker & bid on that instead, they’ve had both on several cards & Usyk already gave up the IBF belt.

Usyk could give up the WBO belt like he did the IBF, that could lead to Parker being elevated or fighting for the full championship.

There's lots of different scenarios that could play out. 

The only way Usyk refuses to fight Parker is if a purse bid is won for the fight & then Usyk decides to fight someone else instead. Until that purse bid is won, Usyk has the WBO rules behind him to agree to a unification over the mandatory. And he won't be refusing to fight Parker, he'll be agreeing to a unification over a mandatory.

I think the WBO enforcing the mandatory is a good thing because it will speed up negotiations from all involved. We now have a month at most (unless an extension for the Parker fight is requested) for a Usyk vs. Dubois unification to be agreed to or for a Usyk vs. Parker deal to be reached (not including any potential extensions).

[diehard]

Thanks for the extensive explanation. Of course, it's speculation with either of our arguments as to what may happen. You list a lot of good possible scenarios. You're thinking it's more up in the air what Usyk/WBO/Saudis might do. I'm thinking it's more solid than that, and that Usyk either accepts the JP fight or loses his WBO belt. BTW, who is JP's promoter? Mr Higgins says it's not him.