Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered to undergo a fresh medical exam by Monday, after a video surfaced of him dancing and playing soccer despite recently citing back injuries to delay negotiations with WBO mandatory challenger Joseph Parker.
The WBO’s Championship Committee, led by Luis Batista Salas, wrote to Usyk’s attorney stressing that the new report must be “detailed and thorough,” certifying his present medical condition, prognosis, and recovery timeline. Failure to comply, the letter warned, could force the sanctioning body to take action under its rules.
Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) had been ordered on July 24 to negotiate with Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) within 30 days. On August 7, Team Usyk reported back problems and provided certified medical reports from Spain that prescribed rest, therapy, and two months away from physical activity. His camp then requested a 90-day pause on talks, which the WBO was prepared to honor.
But the recent Instagram clip - showing Usyk dancing energetically as a singer performed, with DAZN joking about his “career after boxing” - raised eyebrows, particularly from Parker’s side. “From the optics standpoint, what the hell’s this?” one source close to the situation said.
For now, the WBO awaits the updated medical findings. Parker, meanwhile, is expected to move forward with a voluntary bout before year’s end, with English contender Fabio Wardley viewed as the frontrunner.
Image Credit: Sky Sports