The two-time undisputed heavyweight champion has requested a “stay of proceedings” that would delay his negotiations with Parker due to a lingering back injury and is looking for an exception. The native of New Zealand is the WBO mandatory challenger for Usyk, with the sanctioning body next on the list. 

Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) put himself in the mandatory position when he bested Zhilei Zhang in March 2024 to win the interim belt. He's waited his turn while Usyk dispatched Tyson Fury on two occasions and stopped Daniel Dubois in July to become a three-time undisputed champion (once at cruiserweight, twice at heavyweight). 

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Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) first became the undisputed champion when he beat Fury by split decision in May 2024. He got stripped of the IBF heavyweight belt, but still had to face Fury again as there was a mandatory rematch clause in the contract. Usyk won the rematch in December by unanimous decision. Then in July, Usyk stopped Dubois by fifth-round knockout to once again possess all four heavyweight titles. 

Parker's only fought once since the Zhang fight. He was supposed to face Dubois in February, but the Brit pulled out due to an undisclosed injury. Parker remained on the card and stopped Martin Bakole in the second round. 

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