Oleksandr Usyk could fight Daniel Dubois for the undisputed crown next after ‘Triple D’s’ withdrawal from his clash with Joseph Parker.
Dubois was due to defend his IBF heavyweight title against Parker as chief support for Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol‘s rematch.
However, Dubois fell ill with a viral infection and was subsequently removed from the bill on the doctors’ advice.
As a result, Martin Bakole has stepped in on two days’ notice to replace the Brit.
Prior to the shocking development, WBA, WBO and WBC champion, Usyk told talkSPORT.com of his intentions to box the winner of Dubois vs Parker for the undisputed crown.
“We wait for a fight on February 22 between Daniel and Joseph,” he said during an exclusive interview on the London Eye.
“Whoever wins this fight between Daniel and Joseph, I have already made the fight.”
It was also set to be Usyk’s penultimate professional fight.
Yet he may now be forced to change course following the collapse of Dubois vs Parker.
As Dubois is out of the fight, the IBF belt is also off the table.
Parker will instead defend his WBO ‘interim’ title against Bakole to decide Usyk’s next mandatory challenger.
The WBO has the power to order Usyk to fight the winner of Bakole vs Parker next, but newly elected president Gustavo Olivieri has told talkSPORT.com that they will also consider the possibility of stepping aside and allowing Usyk to box Dubois in a four-belt shootout should the relevant parties push for it.
“The winner of Bakole-Parker will be mandatory for Usyk,” Oliveri told talkSPORT.com
“The question is when will the mandatory will be enforced.
“It remains to be seen because of the existence of a rotation agreement (order of mandatories) between the sanction bodies.
“Most likely, the WBO is next in line, however, if a unification request (Usyk vs Dubois) is submitted to the Championship Committee, it would certainly be considered as unifications take precedence over mandatories and serve the best interests of boxing.”
The WBO has always favoured making unification fights over ordering mandatories so it appears a Usyk vs Dubois rematch for the undisputed crown is a real possibility for both of their next fights.
Usyk knocked out Dubois in August 2023, but en route to the eventual stoppage the Ukrainian was dropped by a punch that divided the boxing world.
Some claimed the shot was legal and should have been counted while others insisted it had strayed low.
Ultimately, the referee determined it was an illegal blow and so Usyk was given four minutes to recover before coming back to stop Dubois in the ninth round with a stiff jab.
