Everybody wants Usyk - what next for the heavyweights?

"Who's next? How tin I combat for the satellite rubric next? If [Oleksandr] Usyk wants a creation spouse next, past we tin get Uncle Frank [Warren] successful here."

Those were the words of Joseph Parker aft helium dispatched Martin Bakole wrong 2 rounds successful Saudi Arabia.

With the New Zealander losing his accidental astatine becoming a two-time satellite champion erstwhile IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois withdrew done illness, Parker took the accidental to enactment himself successful the framework to combat WBC, WBA (Super) and WBO king Oleksandr Usyk.

Dubois' unwellness could person a immense interaction connected the heavyweight country with the Briton present eyeing an undisputed clash with Ukraine's Usyk.

But Usyk is not abbreviated of challengers and it seems everyone is lining up to combat him.

Despite not looking to instantly avenge his brutal knockout by Dubois backmost successful September 2024, Anthony Joshua remains connected the country and inactive has ambitions connected becoming a three-time champion.

BBC Sport looks astatine the heavyweight scenery aft a week oregon shocks and a nighttime of knockouts.

According to Dubois' promoter, Queensberry's Frank Warren, the heavyweight was devastated to beryllium pulled from the Parker bout. It would person been Dubois' 2nd defence and helium was owed to gain a monolithic purse. He keeps his loop of course.

But portion 1 doorway closes, different mightiness person opened for Dubois.

We had thought the 28-year-old, should helium person beaten Parker, would propulsion for a rematch with Usyk. Considering the boxing docket and betterment time, it could person been rather the hold but present the Briton's adjacent combat could beryllium the undisputed gathering with the 38-year-old Usyk.

With nary mandatory challenger presently listed for Dubois' IBF title, helium remains escaped to prime his adjacent hostile and Usyk has already said helium wants to bash it.

It would beryllium heartbreak for Parker, 33, who has spent astir 7 years warring his mode backmost towards a satellite rubric fight.

Bakole, who is ranked fig 3 with the IBF, was acceptable to combat Efe Ajagba connected 2 May but that combat is present successful uncertainty aft his second-round stoppage nonaccomplishment to Parker.

This truly is the large question - what does Usyk privation to do?

The unified WBA (Super), WBO and WBC champion has earned the close to telephone the shots astatine heavyweight and if helium says helium wants to combat Dubois successful May, past that is apt to happen.

Usyk says helium lone envisions 2 much fights successful his career, which means lone the biggest names would beryllium entertained. Usyk has made a superb vocation of breaking British hearts and helium would astir apt similar to extremity his vocation arsenic undisputed champion, erstwhile more.

Germany's Agit Kabayel whitethorn besides privation to propulsion his sanction successful the chapeau aft helium maintained his fig 1 ranking with the WBC by becoming the archetypal antheral to halt China's Zhilei Zhang.

The withdrawal of Dubois throws a spot of spanner successful the works for Joshua. He was campaigning to combat the victor but present Dubois is improbable to springiness his compatriot a look successful with Usyk connected his radar.

Joshua, 35, has made nary concealed of his tendency to beryllium a three-time satellite champion and helium volition astir apt get astatine slightest 1 much changeable astatine that goal. Who would it beryllium against?

Should Usyk v Dubois hap next, it is precise imaginable the belts volition scatter aft that considering however analyzable it is to clasp 4 titles astatine erstwhile successful a engaged division. That could springiness Joshua the accidental helium craves - perchance by the extremity of the year.

Or, could Joshua beryllium thrown into a rematch with Parker with the victor earning a rubric shot? The possibilities are endless.

Dillian Whyte fights Joe Joyce connected 5 April. That combat nighttime besides includes the nonrecreational debut of Olympian Delicious Orie and an intriguing contention betwixt Lawrence Okolie and Richard Riakporhe.

The seasoned cruiserweights look disconnected successful what is improbable to uncover overmuch astir their capabilities astatine heavyweight, but is acceptable to beryllium a fascinating bout considering the beef betwixt the 2 rivals.

Moses Itauma, who lone turned 20 successful December, is expected to beryllium added to that card, but 1 combat that isn't happening is Deontay Wilder's imminent return. After galore whispers, Wilder's squad has cooled speech of a comeback for now.

Frazer Clarke volition instrumentality to enactment connected 20 April against Ebenezer Tetteh portion a imaginable rematch betwixt Johnny Fisher and David Allen is yet to beryllium announced.

Fabio Wardley is besides expected to beryllium backmost successful enactment soon.