The WBO has ordered a mandatory bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker but the fight will not take place on a Riyadh Season or The Ring. With Turki Alalshikh having already cosigned Moses Itauma to receive an opportunity against Usyk, the announcement ― from The Ring ― appears to be a subliminal message from the Saudi chairman to indicate his displeasure at the WBO’s recent order.

Just his past weekend, Turki Alalshikh revealed his wishes to see British heavyweight (200+lbs) prospect Moses Itauma (12-0, 10 KO’s) head into a title shot with Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KO’s) despite numerous factors making him resoundingly undeserving of the opportunity.

Having yet to compete in a 12-round fight or go past 6 rounds, Itauma’s upcoming August 16 headliner on a Riyadh Season card against countryman Dillian Whyte (31-3, 21 KO’s) will determine where he stands in the division. Scheduled for 12 rounds, the fight can still be a slippery slope for the 20-year old Brit and regardless of the result, Itauma would be largely considered an undeserving challenger if he were to get a chance against Usyk.

With the WBO having been quick to order a mandatory bout between Usyk and Joseph Parker days after Usyk’s undisputed win over Daniel Dubois, Alalshikh has quickly gone on to establish to have no interest in the mandated bout that would see all of Usyk’s heavyweight titles be put on the line:

“Riyadh Season and Sela are not interested in making a fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker, The Ring has learned,” The Ring posted on social media shortly after the WBO announced their Usyk-Parker order yesterday.

As The Ring owner Alalshikh is also considered the head of Riyadh Season, there is plenty to indicate the statement was directly taken from the Saudi chairman.

Though Sela was mentioned rather than The Ring [which has already hosted three shows this calendar year], The Ring itself is unlikely to sponsor the Usyk vs. Parker bout given Alalshikh’s position.