Tyson Fury emerged from the shadows to laugh at rival Oleksandr Usyk, who seemingly shot himself in the foot amid a WBO doctor’s note.
The fallout from Usyk’s WBO mandatory obligations has taken another twist after Joseph Parker’s promoter, David Higgins, cast doubt on the Ukrainian’s injury claim.
WBO officials ordered Usyk to defend his heavyweight crown against Parker days after the pound-for-pound king’s second win over Daniel Dubois. President Gustavo Olivieri gave both sides 30 days to reach an agreement before the fight moves to purse bids.
That timeframe elapsed almost two weeks ago. However, the undisputed champion notified the sanctioning body of injury, a claim that has now come under scrutiny.
Higgins questions Usyk’s injury
Speaking to Sky Sports, Higgins admitted that while he had yet to review the medical evidence, the optics of Usyk’s activity since the supposed setback raised eyebrows.
“I haven’t actually seen the medical evidence, but you would think that a serious injury would prevent that sort of activity,” Higgins said. “As far as I’m concerned, things are exactly as they were.
“In boxing, nothing surprises me.”
The comment reflects growing frustration from Parker’s camp, who remain in limbo while talks with Team Usyk have yet to begin in earnest.
Fury mocking from afar
Adding fuel to the fire, Fury, still smarting from his double defeat to Usyk, took the opportunity to laugh at his conqueror’s predicament.
The ‘Gypsy King’ has frequently ridiculed Usyk’s victories, doubling down on his disdain by laughing at Higgins’ claim as a close friend of Parker.
For Fury, who has demanded a trilogy bout in the UK after back-to-back Saudi Arabia showdowns, the controversy provides fresh ammunition to question Usyk’s credibility outside the ring.
With negotiations yet to begin, the 30-day WBO deadline remains unclear. If both sides can’t reach an agreement soon, the bout will head to purse bids, potentially throwing the heavyweight division into another round of uncertainty.
The WBO order represents his best chance at regaining a world title since losing the WBO belt to Anthony Joshua in 2018. Parker deserves a shot at the undisputed crown after wins over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole.
However, whether the New Zealand star fights for one title or four remains out of his hands.
For Usyk, the questions around his medical note and Fury’s public ridicule threaten to distract from his position as the division’s number one.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.