World Boxing News has learned the timeframe for the World Boxing Organization’s decision on the possibility of Usyk vs. Dubois 2.
As WBN revealed last week, Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois petitioned the WBO to consider allowing a rematch between the pair this summer.
President Gustavo Olivieri stated that Joseph Parker’s mandatory deadline of mid-April would be scrapped in favor of a final decision from the WBO Championships Committee.
After Egis Klimas rubbished reports of a done deal between old rivals Usyk and Dubois for the summer at Wembley Stadium, Olivieri updated Worldboxingnews.com on the situation.
“We expect a decision from the Championships Committee within the next two weeks,” Olivieri told World Boxing News.
Usyk, the WBO, WBA, and WBC champion, has only fought one mandatory since claiming the IBF, WBA, and WBO versions from former champion Anthony Joshua in September 2021. Ironically, that was against Dubois in August 2023.
Controversy marred the fight after a low blow that saw Usyk take a long time to recover before eventually scoring a knockout of Dubois in Wroclaw, Poland. Since then, Dubois has lobbied for a second chance on either side of claiming the IBF belt stripped from Usyk without a fight.
The IBF took the belt from Usyk following his second win over Tyson Fury in a move that polarized boxing fans. Usyk wants to win back the IBF title despite the premature and forceful taking of his championship, with Parker the fall guy in the situation.
Parker has earned his opportunity at the heavyweight championship after knocking out Martin Bakole after Dubois pulled out through illness. At the same time, the sport’s politics and the fact that Usyk doesn’t have long left could delay that fight until December. Parker’s mandatory status seems on the sidelines as other forces come into play to make Usyk vs Dubois 2 the primary focus.
To their credit, the WBO is working through a challenging situation and aims to make an official ruling that can appease all parties involved.
WBN believes that Usyk and Dubois would likely fight first at London’s Wembley Stadium. Parker would be guaranteed a chance to become undisputed heavyweight champion as part of the deal in a clash expected to be hosted by Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the final third of 2025.
Both contests would still be under the banner of Turki Alalshikh and Ring Magazine, who seem to hold the current monopoly on the heavyweight division.
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Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, an experienced boxing writer and World Boxing News Editor since 2010.
