In a way, the heavyweight division has been in a bit of a resurgence in recent years. 2024 really stood out, thanks to a pair of fights between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. The Ukraininan came out on top in both, putting a stamp on what has turned into a legendary career. Usyk didn’t stop there, though.
In 2025, he looked to slay yet another giant, for a second time. Daniel Dubois, who had rebounded amazingly after losing to Usyk in 2023, wanted revenge at Wembley Stadium this summer. Instead, he helped Usyk further cement his legacy, as the heavyweight king knocked out the 27-year-old in the fifth round. At this point, there really isn’t anything else Usyk needs to do to prove himself. From now on, he’s just fighting for the record books and for the love of the game.
Oleksandr Usyk requests extension for Joseph Parker negotiations
Usyk could easily retire now, but he shut that down quickly right after the Dubois fight. His body felt fresh at 38 years old. Or was he hiding something? On Thursday, promoter Frank Warren revealed that Usyk filed an extension request on negotiations for the Joseph Parker fight. The reason? An injury, at least according to Usyk.
Usyk has been ordered by the WBO to defend his heavyweight title against Parker, the mandatory challenger. It hasn’t been clear if that’s the fight Usyk truly wants, so this injury may just be an excuse to have more time to make a decision. A similar situation occurred in 2024, when the IBF stripped Usyk of his belt when he refused to fight Dubois, choosing to take the second Fury bout instead.
Parker may not have the name recognition of some of the high-profile boxers in the division, but he has more than earned a shot at the throne. Parker has rattled off six straight victories since losing to Joe Joyce in 2022. His most recent was a 2nd round TKO win over Martin Bakole.
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