Fabio Wardley has secured the heavyweight world champion title as Oleksandr Usyk decided to relinquish his belt. In a thrilling match last month, Wardley defeated Joseph Parker in the 11th round, earning the interim WBO champion status. Usyk, who was required to defend his four titles against Wardley, chose not to engage in what would have been his ninth encounter with a British opponent.
Having previously held the undisputed world champion title twice after victories over Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois, the Ukrainian initially intended to have one final fight but recently announced plans to extend his career for two more years. Wardley’s journey to becoming a world champion is remarkable, starting from the white-collar boxing scene without an amateur background. Since turning professional in 2017, he has only lost one fight out of 20, with 19 wins by knockout, defeating notable opponents like Justis Huni, David Adeleye, Nick Gorman, and Nick Webb.
Despite a draw against Frazer Clarke in their first encounter, Wardley decisively won their rematch with a first-round TKO. While eager to face Usyk, Wardley ultimately didn’t need to fight the current ‘baddest man on the planet’ to achieve his dream of becoming a world champion. This marks the second instance where Usyk has relinquished a title, having done so previously with the IBF belt to pursue an instant rematch with Fury instead of facing the mandatory challenger Dubois.
Wardley’s promoter, Frank Warren, expressed pride in Wardley’s achievement, hailing him as the new WBO heavyweight champion and a rising star in the sport. Warren anticipates exciting matchups in 2026 as Wardley defends his WBO belt and solidifies his legacy in boxing.