Joseph Parker Stripped of WBO Title Ahead of Bout

Joseph Parker is set to be stripped of his WBO interim heavyweight title just one second into his fight against Daniel Dubois on February 22 in Saudi Arabia. Parker, who earned the interim title by defeating Zhilei Zhang in March 2024, will lose the title upon the sound of the opening bell due to WBO regulations prohibiting interim champions from unifying with champions from other organizations. WBO President Gustavo Olivieri praised Parker for his professionalism and integrity, confirming he will be introduced as champion before the title becomes vacant. Dubois, the current IBF champion, recently stopped Anthony Joshua, setting the stage for this clash. Parker's journey includes a previous reign as WBO heavyweight champion from 2016 to 2018, and he aims to reclaim a world title after a successful comeback. The unusual ruling highlights the complexities of boxing's sanctioning body regulations.