A potential undisputed heavyweight showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker is being lined up for April, with several possible host locations under consideration.
Before any such bout can take place, WBO ‘interim’ champion Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) must first get past Fabio Wardley in their highly anticipated clash tomorrow night at London’s O2 Arena.
The New Zealander enters the fight as a clear favourite and is widely viewed as the leading contender to challenge reigning heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs).
Since suffering an 11th-round stoppage loss to Joe Joyce in 2022, Parker has undergone an impressive transformation under the guidance of head trainer Andy Lee and strength and conditioning coach George Lockhart. His resurgence has seen him re-establish himself among the elite of the division.
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Notable points victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang showcased Parker at his best, demonstrating both technical skill and tactical maturity. After a planned fight with Daniel Dubois fell through earlier this year, Parker instead delivered a dominant second-round knockout of late replacement Martin Bakole, further solidifying his world-title credentials.
With his mandatory status secured, Parker appeared content to wait for his shot at Usyk. However, rather than sit on the sidelines, the 33-year-old has chosen to put everything on the line against Wardley — a dangerous puncher fresh off a stunning 10th-round knockout of Justis Huni.
Meanwhile, the path forward for undisputed champion Usyk has become clearer. The Ukrainian’s advisor, Serhii Lapin, recently confirmed Usyk’s interest in facing the winner of Parker vs. Wardley, a sentiment echoed by Parker’s manager, Spencer Brown of Goldstar Promotions.
“Usyk had only just defended his titles [against Tyson Fury], and the WBO were on him straight away,” Brown told Boxing News. “He just wanted some time with his family, but now we’re ready to rock and roll. The fight could be anywhere — America, England, Saudi Arabia, even New Zealand. It all depends on the money.
“I’d imagine that, after the Wardley fight, the next one would probably be in April.”
