WBO Receives Petition to Approve Usyk vs. Dubois Next

WBO President Gustavo Olivieri has confirmed that the organization has received a formal petition requesting approval for a unification bout between WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) and IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs) to take place next.

The situation is complicated by the fact that Joseph Parker, the current WBO interim champion, has already been named the official mandatory challenger for Usyk's title.

"A petition has been submitted to the WBO Championship Committee to consider approving the Usyk vs. Dubois unification bout in the heavyweight division. We will make a public announcement soon regarding the official decision, including the status of Parker as mandatory challenger," said Olivieri.

Usyk and Dubois previously fought in 2023, with Usyk stopping Dubois in the ninth round of their first encounter. Should the rematch be sanctioned, it could delay Parker’s title shot—pending the WBO’s official ruling.