These two likeable heavyweights are in strong positions – highly ranked, and could easily sit back and wait for opportunities. But these are fighting men and it is not in their DNA to coast.
Parker is absolutely deserving of his world-title shot and remains the WBO mandatory challenger. The WBO has asked Usyk for medical evidence after footage surfaced of him dancing at a public event. No-one can accuse Usyk of avoiding challenges but you have to wonder if he is holding out for a more lucrative bout.
To put it all into context: Usyk currently holds all four recognised heavyweight titles. Parker is first in line with the WBO. Things are messy with the WBA – Wardley is the interim champion and Kubrat Pulev holds the regular belt.
In short, too many belts, too much confusion. The upside for Wardley is that if Parker is upgraded to full WBO champion, that might open the door for him to a world title shot sooner than expected.
Elsewhere, Agit Kabayel is the WBC’s number one challenger for the title as an interim champion, while over at the IBF there is not even a clear mandatory challenger with veteran Derek Chisora, incredibly, sitting at number two.
But despite all the politics, the division is buzzing. It might not quite be the 1990s glory days, or even the Deontay Wilder/Tyson Fury/Anthony Joshua boom, but we are seeing the next wave emerge.
Moses Itauma looks like he is leading that charge. He is officially ranked number one with the WBA and WBO, but because of boxing’s layer of ‘secondary champions’ he actually sits behind Usyk as full champion, plus the likes of Pulev and Wardley at the WBA, and Parker at the WBO.
After blowing away Dillian Whyte in August, talk quickly turned to Itauma fighting Usyk next. But his promoters Queensberry seem more inclined to give him a solid world-level test before throwing him in with the pound-for-pound king. Filip Hrgovic’s name has been floated as a possible opponent.
