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World Boxing News can reveal the heavyweight mandatory order following the finalization of the Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois rematch.
Usyk and Dubois will put the belts back together following an unfathomable IBF title order that resulted in Dubois securing the title without a fight.
Following his knockout win over Anthony Joshua and subsequent Joseph Parker pullout through illness, ‘DDD’ gets the opportunity for Usyk revenge.
The pair clashed in August 2023 at Wroclaw Stadium in Poland, a contest marred by the controversy of a low blow. The referee, Luis Pabon, ruled the body shot illegal despite promoter Frank Warren arguing that the punch was legal.
Usyk took the allotted five minutes to recover and duly knocked Dubois out. Since then, Warren has successfully championed a second chance for Dubois.
Dubois has effectively jumped the line ahead of all mandatory contenders to earn the chance to win all four heavyweight titles.
The WBO informed World Boxing News that they would consider delaying WBO interim champion Joseph Parker’s shot. Meanwhile, the IBF also told WBN they would put Derek Chisora’s stipulated chance to a vote.
In the end, the process unanimously voted for Usyk vs Dubois 2, which will take place on July 19 at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
With Usyk vs Dubois, a battle of two champions set to crown a new undisputed king, Warren has revealed the mandatory order that will follow this summer’s bout.
“With Joe Parker, the WBO just put a mandate out saying that the winner of this fight has to defend against the WBO mandatory challenger, which is Joe Parker, which is a great fight by the way,” Warren told Sky Sports.
“People might be saying ‘oh Joe must be peed off he’s not fighting Daniel’ – well, he’ll be fighting for four belts now.
“Whoever wins it, which I hope is going to be our man [Dubois], they’ll be challenging for four belts, so he’s in a better place.”
On Chisora, Warren added, “Derek has been told. He’s in a position where it’s been ordered again. After the sequence of the governing bodies, he’s the next one in after that, so they’re all in good positions.”
Warren’s admission means Parker will be the WBO’s order for the fall against Usyk or Dubois. Chisora will then face the winner under the IBF’s ruling.
Next up will be the WBA mandatory interim title fight, which will determine the eventual winner between Fabio Wardley and Jarrell Miller, as well as the regular champion, Kubrat Pulev.
However, Chisora and the WBA trio will not face Usyk or battle the undisputed heavyweight champion. The Ukrainian will retire by then, should the pound-for-pound king beat Dubois and Parker.
The championships will then be up in the air before the IBF, WBA, or WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel can fight a four-belt unification.
Only if Usyk loses will any of those last five names get to contest more than one solitary world title.
The addition of Tyson Fury back in the mix will only complicate things further, as the WBC may favor adding a championship to an imminent event with Joshua.
One thing is for sure – the heavyweight division is as complicated as ever.
Heavyweight Mandatory Order – April 2025
Usyk vs Dubois – July 19
WBO – Winner faces Joseph Parker
IBF – Derek Chisora next
WBA – Fabio Wardley vs. Jarrell Miller | Kubrat Pulev
WBC – Agit Kabayel | Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua
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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.
