Unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has unveiled his intentions to unify all major belts by challenging IBF world champion Daniel Dubois.

The Ukrainian currently holds the WBC, WBA, WBO, IBO, and Ring Magazine titles but needs Dubois’ IBF belt to become the undisputed champion for the third time.

The former undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight champion stated, “The WBO has instructed me to defend this title, but our team’s priority now is unifying the belts with Daniel Dubois.”

Usyk and Dubois are the only active heavyweight world champions and are negotiating a stadium fight in London this summer.

This development is a setback for Joseph Parker, who was named the WBO mandatory challenger. The former champion has been actively seeking a bout with Usyk, even releasing one of his signature music videos this week as a playful callout.

Some fight fans are also disappointed, as Parker had been in great form and was expected to get his opportunity, especially after Dubois withdrew from their February fight due to illness.

The 33-year-old Parker instead knocked out stand-in opponent Martin Bakole, securing his sixth consecutive win, which includes victories over Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder.

Fans are also frustrated because Usyk has already beaten Dubois, stopping him in the ninth round of their August 2023 fight in Poland.

Controversy arose after Usyk went down from a body shot that Dubois and his promoter Frank Warren insisted was legal. However, a WBA review later upheld the referee’s decision, rejecting the appeal.

Ultimately, Dubois was outmatched, struggling with Usyk’s relentless pace and style. A flurry of punches forced him to take a knee in the eighth round before Usyk floored him with a southpaw jab in the ninth to seal victory.

Since then, Dubois has emerged as the division’s most improved fighter, securing three knockout wins over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, and Anthony Joshua.

His eighth-round TKO over Hrgovic made him IBF Interim champion, a status that was upgraded when Usyk vacated the IBF belt to allow Dubois and Joshua to fight for it.

Dubois claimed the IBF title in style last September by knocking out Joshua in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium.

A rematch between Usyk and Dubois could be more competitive now, but Usyk, having already beaten AJ and Fury twice each, along with victories over Derek Chisora and Tony Bellew, has established a track record of defeating British opponents.