Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KO’s) and Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KO’s) are on the verge of a potential fight per the WBO’s mandate last month, but the fight might potentially be hijacked by Turki Alalshikh after it came to light he heavily favored Moses Itauma (13-0, 11 KO’s) to face Usyk.

Shortly after Moses Itauma’s surprise 1st-round victory over Dillian Whyte on August 16, Alalshikh’s earlier stated intentions not to sponsor a Usyk-Parker fight was speculated to be due to his wishes to see a bout between Usyk and Itauma, but has now been confirmed following The Ring’s latest report:

“The Ring has learned that His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s preference is to see Moses Itauma challenge Ring and undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk next,” The Ring announced on social media shortly after the Itauma-Whyte bout.

With the state of negotiations between Usyk and Parker having not yet amounted to a tangible deal, the delay of a finalization of the WBO-ordered bout appears innocuous at first glance; as many ordered bouts often head to purse bids.

However, the deadline for the two fighters’ teams to negotiate is set to expire later this week on August 21st ― 30 days after the fight was first mandated by the WBO on July 22nd, with no indication on whether the two are in concordance for a bout later this year or early 2026.

Based on Alalshikh’s intentions, the Usyk-Parker fight might be circumvented by behind-the-scenes attempts to convince Oleksandr Usyk to face Itauma instead, though this would come at the cost of Usyk losing his WBO title.

Itauma, 20, admitted in his post-fight interview to Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel (26-0, 18 KO’s) being frontrunners to deserving a chance against Usyk, but circumstances now seem to make him a potential dark horse in the search for Usyk’s next opponent.

Interestingly, Queensberry Promotions appears to hold all the cards when it comes to deciding who Usyk’s next challenger should be with both Parker and Itauma currently signed to the British promotion.