Fabio Wardley has earned the title of heavyweight world champion as Oleksandr Usyk relinquished his belt. Wardley defeated Joseph Parker in the 11th round last month to claim the interim WBO championship. Usyk was mandated to defend his four belts against Wardley but decided against facing his ninth British opponent.
Usyk, a two-time undisputed world champion, had victories over Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois. Initially planning to have one final fight, Usyk recently announced his intention to continue boxing for another two years. Wardley, with a remarkable record of 20 wins, one draw, and no losses, including 19 knockouts, has triumphed over notable opponents such as Justis Huni, David Adeleye, Nick Gorman, and Nick Webb. Frazer Clarke is the only boxer to have held Wardley to a draw so far.
The rematch between Wardley and Clarke in October of the same year showcased Wardley’s superiority with a first-round TKO victory. Despite Wardley’s eagerness to face Usyk, the fight did not materialize, leading to Wardley achieving his dream of becoming a world champion without facing the current top-ranked boxer.
This marks the second time Usyk has relinquished a title in his career, having previously given up his IBF belt to pursue an instant rematch with Fury instead of facing Daniel Dubois. Dubois subsequently became the full IBF champion and defended his title with a fifth-round knockout of Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September. However, Dubois lost the title to Usyk in July 2025 with a fifth-round stoppage at the same venue.
Frank Warren, Wardley’s promoter, expressed pride in Wardley’s accomplishment of becoming the WBO heavyweight champion and highlighted the exciting fights ahead for Wardley in 2026 as he defends his title and builds a lasting legacy in the sport.