Matchmaking from a distance is such an entertaining endeavor for boxing fans, and so the futures of unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and the placement of rival former world champions Caleb Plant and Jermall Charlo on the same May 31 PBC card made for quality fodder on Wednesday’s episode of “BoxingScene Today.”

The debate over Ukraine’s Usyk 23-0 (14 KOs) is whether he should pursue a rematch with IBF champion Daniel Dubois for the undisputed heavyweight championship, or if he should turn to his WBO mandatory and former champion Joseph Parker.

There’s more options (and opinions) connected to the Plant-Charlo card, which comes nearly two years after Plant punched Charlo in the face at the Terence Crawford-Errol Spence Jnr fight week.

Stirred up, “BoxingScene Today” analysts and former world champions Paulie Malignaggi and Chris Algieri discussed the scenarios on separate episodes.

“More people would get more excited about Dubois … Parker is more of a lunchpail fighter, but he’s more deserving. So it’s interesting,” Malignaggi said. “Do you want the intriguing guy [Dubois] or the guy who [represents] slow and steady wins the race?

“There’s a viable case for both sides, but I’ll side with Parker.”

Usyk stopped Dubois in the ninth round of their 2023 bout after Dubois was denied a knockdown on a punch deemed a low blow. Dubois responded by stopping Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic in succession before repeatedly knocking down and then knocking out two-time champion Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in September.

The fact that Usyk-Dubois could result in an undisputed champion after the IBF quickly swiped Usyk’s claim to that title in May is appetizing.

But the fact that swings favor to Parker is that all of this could have been settled last month, but the 27-year-old Dubois 22-2 (21 KOs) withdrew from his February 22 defense against Parker 36-3 (24 KOs), leaving Parker to post a knockout against replacement foe Martin Bakole.

That makes six consecutive victories for Parker, including triumphs over Bakole, China’s massive Zhilei Zhang and former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

“Parker and Dubois were supposed to fight. Who pulled out?” Algieri asked. “Parker went out and did his job. Dubois did not.”

Yet, Algieri reminded that Dubois entered the ring after Usyk’s repeat victory over Tyson Fury in December and got Usyk to acknowledge he will pursue a Dubois fight next.

Dubois promoter Frank Warren said this week Dubois will turn to incoming mandatory IBF contender Derek Chisora if Usyk opts to fight Parker, the interim WBO champion. Chisora will be ordered to fight Dubois on April 22, the IBF announced Thursday.

“Put those [last] three fights together and [Parker] deserves it. Plus, he’s been a champion,” Algieri said.

While host Jimmy Smith reminded that the aged Zhang, past-his-prime Wilder and out-of-shape Bakole can be cast as diminished versions, Algieri said they are only “diminished in hindsight” because Parker entered two of those bouts as an underdog.

“You can run into the same problem with [Dubois’] Joshua win,” because Joshua appears faded, Malignaggi said.

“If you start to revise it, you get in trouble,” Algieri said.

With Usyk, 38, saying he’s only expected to fight a few more times, the discussion turned to whether the two-time undisputed and Boxing Writers Association of America “Fighter of the Year” will be able to retire undefeated with these opponents before him.

“He can win by an inch every time,” Algieri said. “I believe desire will get him before he’s beaten. I believe he’ll retire undefeated. He’s so technical and has to dig down every single time.”

Malignaggi predicted someone will defeat Usyk, but added, “He’s in the conversation for greatest heavyweight ever. Your favorite fighter wasn’t looking this good at this age.”

Malignaggi made clear Jermall Charlo is not one of his favorite fighters upon BoxingScene reporting that the long-inactive former middleweight champion is bound for the May 31 card in a super-middleweight bout along with WBA interim super-middleweight champion Plant.

The bout reunites the pair whio scrapped in the bowels of the T-Mobile Arena with YouTube cameras rolling, but Malignaggi said they should have fought far sooner.

“This ship has sailed so far away, it’s out of sight. [Making Plant-Charlo] is selling garbage to garbagemen,” he said.

Algieri disagreed, contending that even if Plant and Charlo fare well in separate bouts without fighting each other on May 31, “the fight still sells … roll out that tape. That beef is real. They’re coming to get into it again. They’re names. And how many losses does Charlo have?”

The answer is zero, although his opponent selection has been incredibly weak over time.

While the May 31 opponents for former IBF 168lbs champion Plant and ex-WBC middleweight champion Charlo aren’t yet set, both Algieri and Malignaggi agreed that formidable foes should be summoned if they’re not fighting each other.

They won’t be fighting either recent 168lbs title challengers Jaime Munguia, who’ll attempt to avenge his upset knockout loss to Bruno Surace on May 3 in Saudi Arabia, or Edgar Berlanga, who fought March 15 and isn’t expected back until the late summer.

“Caleb versus anyone is interesting. I don’t need Charlo,” Malignaggi said of the fighter who hasn’t fought since November 2023 and was arrested for driving under the influence and fleeing the scene of a crime in Texas in May.

“You can make it a good twinbill,” Algieri answered.

As for Plant, 32, getting knocked down by Trevor McCumby last year and fading in the late-going against Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez has “people thinking Plant is ripe for the taking,” encouraging opponents to apply, Algieri said.

With all of that said, now the actual matchmakers can settle who’s fighting who and how this all plays out.