Warren says Usyk is injured/Parker will likely defend full WBO title against Whyte-Itauma winner

It is because Joseph Parker has been mandatory since beating Zhang in March 2024, (which was off the back of a 4-fight come-back winning streak in 2023 that included W12 against Wilder in an upset in December 2023).
ALREADY in March 2024, Parker was considered a very worthy challenger (& an official mandatory) but Usyk/Fury was already in place ... then a Usyk/Fury rematch was in place, So Parker was forced to wait until 2025.
Then Parker was granted a challenge to Dubois' IBF belt (ended up in Dubois hands because Usyk failed to fight another mandatory - Hrgovic), and Dubois pulled out "sick" from the Parker at the last moment.
Parker beat another top 10 fighter (Bakole) who came in as a last-minute substitute.

BOTH Usyk and Dubois have had an obligation of some sort to honour with Joseph Parker all this year. But Dubois never re-scheduled a Parker fight, and Usyk simply chose a Dubois rematch over the Parker fight, already months ago.

If Parker has to wait until 2026, it's a disgrace. None of this inactivity is doing him any good.

 

It is quite clear that the man who currently runs heavyweight boxing (Turki Al-Shikh) has his favourites too. Although the Saudi shows have done great things for Parker and Kabayel, it is the British heavyweights who seem to be given more chances. To be fair to Dubois, he earned his place with wins against Miller, Hrgovic and Joshua. But it is disapponting that the Saudi shows haven't implemented a proper elimination series.

Instead, we are likely to see Jake Paul added to the roster.

 

Its definitely not the best system, but its what we have. Without the mandatories we would just have champs mucking around way more than they are currently. Fury could feasibly still be champ from the Klitschko win without the bodies enforcing their mandatories for example.

Rankings are plain mysticism, based on money, clout, popularity, eye test etc, and only then ranked fighters they have actually fought. The only one that actually comes close to try and base their rankings on fighter's recent performances against opposition is the IBF, and they get a tonne of crap for their mandatories as a result because they normally aren't that popular or bring money and fans with them.

 

Adding on to this, the WBO hasn't had their title defended since Usyk won it himself off of Joshua the first time back in 2021, nearly four years ago. I still reckon that if it were anyone else other than Usyk they would be getting criticized a lot more for the same things.

I was also thinking that if Usyk was from the UK or US and spoke English, people would have already dug up some stupid things he would have said, or taken something he said way out of context and used that as a rod to beat him. But because he is from Ukraine, and doesn't really speak English or give interviews in English that doesn't happen.

Same with guys like Golvokin and Lomachenko.

 

I agree with you there Serge. Let's see what the future brings.

 

Whoever he wants? So another voluntary defence then. Gotcha.
He's cleaned out the division, fought all the best, collected all the belts, cemented his legacy as undisputed, why should he be beholden in any way to the organizations for mandatory defences of those belts eh?
It's almost like it's an obligation of becoming champ to fight the best contenders out there and the orgs decide who that is or something...
Now I'm not saying they get it right, but if he doesn't want mandatorys, he should just drop the belt, easy.

As for Kabayel, you're stating opinion as fact. I'm not going to get into it with you (you seem pretty worked up about it all tbh, I get it we all want our guy to get a shot), but I'll point out that if he wants money and eyeballs (and I agree it's eyeballs for the avoidance of doubt) the fight to make isn't Kabayel.

 

Great comment, Kirk

BTW - Andy Lee says he is 85% sure that Usyk will drop the belt

 

He foughts the same 3 guys in 6 world title fights and people are opening churches in his honor. You should understand the moaning and complaining.

Its Usyks fault. Its the champs job to work through the line of contenders. Not the contenders job to eliminate each other for the champ. While Usyk inherited this situation from Fury, AJ and Wilder(the 3 ducks), Usyk has been a champ for 4 years. He has 3 interim champs. Not 1 not 2. 3. Its on him.

Usyk has 8 fights at HW, the idea hes paid his dues "more than anyone in the history of the sport" and can fight whoever he pleases is comically disrespectful. He has not earned it. He does not get to hold the sport hostage. No he has not earned that.

Imagine a champion having 3 title claimants and thinking a fighter has paid their dues so they can ignore them. If he paid his dues there wouldn't be 3 interim champions.

 

Parker is so fair, sensible and reasonable in his takes. I honestly think it hurts his chances of getting what he wants in the sport compared to guys like Fury.

 

Bingo.