Undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has requested an extension period on his WBO mandatory defence negotiations due to injury.

That was the revelation made Thursday by Frank Warren, who promotes mandatory challenger Joseph Parker. The WBO last month ordered Usyk to defend his title against Parker, its interim champion, which kicked off a period of 30 days for the two sides to negotiate a deal.

That initial period is set to come to an end in the third week of August, though that might not matter now that Usyk’s team has asked for extra time to secure an agreement.

On Thursday, Warren told Sky Sports, “About a month ago the WBO said that Joseph Parker, who is their interim champion, has to challenge Oleksandr Usyk and Oleksandr Usyk has to defend against him. Yesterday he has put a letter in stating that he is asking for an extension period because he’s injured before being ordered to do anything.

“But whatever happens, the fact of life is that Joseph Parker will either fight as champion if Usyk vacates the title or he will fight Usyk for the titles. So, it’s exciting times.”

New Zealand’s Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) won the interim title via a majority-decision victory over China’s Zhilei Zhang in March 2024. It was one of the six victories he has racked up under trainer Andy Lee since Joe Joyce knocked him out in the 11th round in September 2022.

That form has earned him a shot at Ukraine’s Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs), yet Warren says Parker would likely fight the winner of the clash between Moses Itauma and Dillian Whyte on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia should the undisputed king choose to vacate the WBO belt.

“If Moses were to win, or even if Dillian wins that fight, they are in the No.1 spot,” Warren said. “If the fight doesn’t happen with Usyk and Joe, then Joe will have to fight the official No. 1 contender.”

Usyk, who owns The Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO belts, became boxing’s fully unified heavyweight champ for the second time when he knocked out England’s Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) in the fifth round of their rematch July 19 at Wembley Stadium in London.