Usyk Vacates Wbo Belt And Paves Way For Wardley To Become Heavyweight Champion

Fabio Wardley will beryllium upgraded to WBO heavyweight champion aft Oleksandr Usyk elected to relinquish nan title – and his undisputed position – alternatively than take sides it against nan unbeaten Briton.

Wardley wrested nan interim title from Joseph Parker via a melodramatic 11th-round stoppage past period and was mandated to look nan Ukrainian earlier nan extremity of September.

But nan WBO announced connected Monday that Usyk, who unified nan world titles by beating different Briton, nan past IBF champion Daniel Dubois successful July, has formally relayed his determination to vacate nan loop “after thoughtful consideration”. Beating Dubois resulted successful Usyk becoming nan undisputed heavyweight champion for a 2nd time, but he has elected for his spell to beryllium shortlived.

The WBO is yet to officially corroborate Wardley’s ascent to nan vacant title, but his promoter Frank Warren believes it is simply a done deal.

Warren wrote connected X: “Britain has a caller heavyweight world champion and a caller prima of nan sport.

“One of nan astir unthinkable stories I’ve seen successful my 45 years arsenic a promoter and I could not beryllium prouder of @FabioWardley. Some immense fights up for 2026 arsenic he defends his WBO loop and creates a existent bequest successful nan sport.”

Wardley started his profession successful white-collar boxing earlier turning master successful 2017 and racking up 17 consecutive wins. After fighting a split-decision tie against Frazer Clarke successful March 2024, he hit Clarke successful 1 information 7 months later and subsequently came from down to extremity Justis Huni and gain his changeable astatine Parker.

If confirmed, Wardley will go nan sixth Briton to clasp nan WBO heavyweight title, aft Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Henry Akinwande, Herbie Hide and Michael Bentt.