Fabio Wardley has claimed the heavyweight world championship title as Oleksandr Usyk relinquished his belt. Wardley defeated Joseph Parker in the 11th round of an intense battle last month, securing the interim WBO champion status. Usyk, who was mandated to defend his four titles against Wardley, decided to forgo the fight, avoiding what would have been his ninth encounter with a British opponent.
Having previously held the undisputed world champion title twice after victories against Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois, Usyk had initially intended to retire after one more fight but recently announced his plan to continue for another two years. Wardley’s journey to becoming a world champion is remarkable, starting from the white-collar boxing scene with no amateur background but achieving success since turning professional in 2017.
With a remarkable record of 20 wins, one draw, and no losses, Wardley has secured 19 knockouts, triumphing over notable opponents like Justis Huni, David Adeleye, Nick Gorman, and Nick Webb. While Frazer Clarke remains the only fighter to hold Wardley to a draw, their rematch in October of the same year ended with Wardley delivering a first-round TKO victory.
Although Wardley had expressed eagerness to face Usyk, he ultimately did not need to fight the current heavyweight champion to realize his dream of becoming a world champion. This marks the second instance in Usyk’s career where he has vacated a title, having previously given up his IBF belt to pursue a rematch with Fury instead of facing the mandatory challenger Dubois.
As Wardley celebrates his WBO heavyweight championship, his promoter, Frank Warren, expressed pride in the accomplishment, highlighting upcoming significant fights in 2026 as Wardley defends his title and establishes a lasting legacy in the sport.