Fabio Wardley has claimed the title of heavyweight world champion following Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to relinquish his belt. Wardley secured the interim WBO championship by defeating Joseph Parker in an exhilarating 11th-round showdown last month. Usyk, who was mandated to defend his four titles against Wardley, chose not to face the British boxer for the ninth time.
Having previously held the undisputed world champion title twice by defeating Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois, Usyk had initially planned to retire after one more fight but recently announced his intention to continue for an additional two years. Wardley’s journey to world champion status is remarkable, starting his career in white-collar boxing with a flawless professional record since turning pro in 2017.
With an impressive tally of 20 wins, one draw, and no losses, Wardley’s record includes 19 knockouts against notable opponents such as Justis Huni, David Adeleye, Nick Gorman, and Nick Webb. Despite a draw with Frazer Clarke, Wardley’s dominance was evident in their rematch, where he secured a first-round TKO victory. Wardley had expressed keen interest in facing Usyk, emphasizing his long-standing goal of becoming a world champion.
However, Wardley’s dream of claiming the title did not require a bout against Usyk, who has now relinquished a belt for the second time in his career. Usyk had previously forfeited his IBF title to face Fury in a rematch instead of confronting the mandatory challenger Dubois. Dubois later became the full IBF champion, only to lose the title to Usyk in a match where the Brit suffered a fifth-round knockout.
As Wardley celebrates his WBO heavyweight championship, his promoter Frank Warren expressed pride in the fighter’s achievement. Warren hailed Wardley as a new star in the sport, anticipating exciting matchups in 2026 as Wardley defends his WBO title and solidifies his legacy in boxing.
