Overview
- Joseph Parker faces Fabio Wardley on October 25 at London’s O2 Arena for the WBO interim title, with the winner designated as Oleksandr Usyk’s mandatory challenger.
- The WBO granted Usyk a 90-day medical extension for a back injury and ordered him to defend against the Parker–Wardley winner.
- Usyk’s advisor Sergey Lapin says the champion is aiming to return in the first half of 2026, views the O2 victor as the frontrunner, and considers a third Tyson Fury fight unlikely.
- Parker says he chose activity over waiting for Usyk, putting his mandatory status on the line against the unbeaten Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs).
- Anthony Joshua’s comeback planning includes potential Africa dates, and Kingsley Ibeh — on an 11-fight win streak — has publicly called him out for a bout in Nigeria.