Usyk allowed more time to recover before facing Parker in heavyweight clash

World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has been granted a 90-day medical extension by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), giving him additional time to recover from injury and negotiate his mandatory title defence against New Zealand’s Joseph Parker, 24NewsHD TV reported on Sunday.

The Ukrainian champion last fought on July 19 at Wembley Stadium, where he knocked out Daniel Dubois in the fifth round to become the undisputed heavyweight champion for the second time.

With this victory, Usyk also secured his place in boxing history as the first fighter ever to become undisputed champion on three separate occasions, having previously achieved the feat at cruiserweight in 2018 and heavyweight in 2024.

Following the Dubois bout, the WBO ordered Usyk to defend his belt against Parker.

However, the fight was delayed due to his injury.

Initially, Usyk was permitted time to recover, but after a video surfaced showing him dancing, the governing body initiated an inquiry into whether he was unnecessarily delaying his mandatory defence.

The WBO subsequently requested updated medical documentation from Team Usyk and, after reviewing the reports, deemed the explanation satisfactory.

Championship Committee Chairman Luis Batista Salas confirmed in a formal letter that Usyk’s petition for an extension had been accepted.

“The 90-day extension shall have a retroactive effect from the date of submission, August 9, 2025,” the letter stated. During this period, Parker, the Interim Heavyweight Champion, has been authorized to defend his interim title against a suitable opponent approved by the committee, with British boxer Fabio Wardley already scheduled as his challenger on October 25 in London.

The ruling also made it clear that Usyk will be required to face the interim champion in his next fight, with no intervening bouts allowed. Any failure to comply will result in disciplinary action, including the potential stripping of his WBO heavyweight crown.

Despite the controversy, the 38-year-old Usyk remains in possession of the prestigious WBO title, while Parker now has an opportunity to stay active in the ring before the highly anticipated clash with the Ukrainian champion.