Frank Warren has confirmed the winner of Joseph Parker vs Fabio Wardley at the O2 on Saturday evening will face Oleksandr Usyk next.
Parker and Wardley top the bill on Saturday’s Queensberry Promotions card at the O2, where the New Zealander will defend his interim WBO heavyweight crown.
Victory for either fighter will secure mandatory challenger status for the WBO title currently held by Usyk, who also reigns as the unified and Ring Magazine heavyweight champion.
Under the governing bodies’ system, the WBO is next in line to call a mandatory defence. That order was originally issued in July, but plans were pushed back following Usyk’s back injury.
There had been speculation that Usyk might vacate his titles to pursue a third fight with Anthony Joshua or a showdown with Tyson Fury. However, Warren appears to have dismissed those suggestions.
Usyk is expected to return to action in the first half of 2026, and the Parker-Wardley winner now appears poised to be first in line for a shot at the undisputed champion when he steps back into the ring.
Frank Warren has confirmed the winner of Joseph Parker vs Fabio Wardley at the O2 on Saturday evening will face Oleksandr Usyk next
Usyk pictured celebrating holding the IBF, IBO, WBC and WBO belts after beating Dubois in their heavyweight rematch at Wembley Stadium on July 19
Warren promotes both Parker and Wardley – who will top the bill on Saturday’s Queensberry Promotions card at the O2
Speaking at Thursday’s press conference, Warren said: ‘At the moment in heavyweight division, it’s the best fight out there.
‘These two guys have stepped up. Neither of them needed to, neither of them needed to make this fight. You know Joe Parker. He’s the interim champion.
‘The WBO already ordered that Usyk has to defend his belt against him. But he’s injured. Joe could have sat around and waited but he said no. He said he wanted to fight anyway.
‘From Fabio, again, he’s in a fantastic position, and he only had to wait his time, and he would have got a crack at the title. He also said no, I want to fight as well. And not only that, I want to fight Joe Parker.
‘These guys are well trained. They’ve not left anything, no stone unturned. They’re in their best condition. You’re going to get something special on the night. And the prize is there for the winner. The winner gets the fight, Mr Usyk. They will get to fight for the WBO belt and all other three belts.
‘Mr Usyk has said that he will take on the winner of Parker vs Wardley. He has said that he will take that fight next year. So, that’s the prize they are fighting for. It’s all or nothing for the winner.’
Meanwhile, Parker’s manager David Higgins said: ‘I have to admit, a little bit cynical about Usyk’s motivation for what is next. But, I was involved in a couple of phone calls that were quite encouraging the week.
‘Those phone calls suggested to me that Usyk absolutely does value the unified position and will honour it. Now I’m increasingly confident in the winner of this fight [Parker vs Wardley] will get a shot for the undisputed title which makes this a very exciting eliminator situation.’
