Oleksandr Usyk wants Joseph Parker for ‘perfect resume,’ says promoter David Higgins

Oleksandr Usyk has answered each query requested of him thus far.

An Olympic gold medallist at London 2012, he dominated the cruiserweight division the place he received each main world title, going undisputed within the closing of the World Boxing Tremendous Collection.

At heavyweight he is overwhelmed Tyson Fury twice, Anthony Joshua twice and Daniel Dubois twice – and gone undisputed there, twice.

He is by no means misplaced knowledgeable battle.

However Joseph Parker has emerged because the necessary challenger for Usyk’s WBO title. If the New Zealander beats Fabio Wardley once they field this weekend on the O2 Enviornment, Usyk should face Parker if he’s to retain his undisputed heavyweight world championship standing.

“If he doesn’t fight Parker I’d argue that he hasn’t faced all of the best of the era,” David Higgins, Parker’s promoter, advised Sky Sports activities.

“For the perfect resume he needs the Parker fight. I’m sure he backs himself to beat anyone on earth, including Parker. Of course he does, any boxer at this level does need to have that mindset. Parker would back himself to beat Usyk. So it would be a wonderful match-up if it happens.”

Higgins is now assured that it’ll occur, so long as Parker is victorious over Wardley, and that the Usyk battle may happen throughout the first half of 2026.

“That’s the sense I’m getting. I think Usyk’s an honourable guy, one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the history of the sport. What he’s achieved is remarkable, as an amateur, as a cruiserweight and now as a heavyweight,” the promoter mentioned.

“Monumental from Usyk and I think he’s honourable and I think he would see that Joseph has earned the shot, the good old-fashioned hard way by doing the hard yards.”

He added of Parker: “He’s still relatively young for a heavyweight but he’s a veteran. Look at some of the names on his resume. From Anthony Joshua to Andy Ruiz to Dillian Whyte. Beat Derek Chisora twice, [fought] Joe Joyce. Beat Zhilei Zhang, [Deontay] Wilder, [Martin] Bakole on the trot.

“So he is received an enormous resume with quite a lot of success and we predict he is on the peak of his powers in the intervening time. We by no means take any opponent without any consideration and Wardley has an enormous punch. He may knock anybody out. However I feel it must be a really unhealthy day on the workplace, or a foul mistake or a little bit of luck.

“Otherwise I just think Joseph’s got too much class, too much experience, too much speed, is confident on that big stage. So we’re optimistic.”

Wardley’s facet profoundly disagrees with that. Michael Ofo, from his administration staff, defined why they’re so assured the Briton can upset Parker.

“When Fabio’s had a bad night, he’s still found a way to win. When Joseph Parker has a bad night, he loses,” Ofo advised Sky Sports activities.

“I just think that Fabio’s special. He’s going to be too fast, too fresh, mentally too fresh to allow Parker to beat him at this stage.”

However they do agree that Oleksandr Usyk is ready for the Parker-Wardley winner.

“I believe it will happen at some point next year. We’ll be pushing for that,” Ofo mentioned. “There’s no point getting ahead of ourselves. Fully focused on Joseph Parker and getting this job done, and Monday morning it’ll be all about Usyk.”

However he famous: “I believe that Usyk’s a great champion and he thrives under competition, that he will see Fabio as a competitor and want to fight him. I believe that fight will happen and should happen next year.

“He’ll have earned his proper to battle Usyk. I feel Usyk will respect that and I do not suppose he’ll duck him.

“Fabio will rise up again and show the world that he’s not to be underestimated and he’ll do what seems to be impossible.”