Fabio Wardley has attained the title of heavyweight world champion following Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to relinquish his championship belt. Wardley achieved this feat by defeating Joseph Parker in the 11th round of an intense bout last month, securing the interim WBO championship. Usyk, who was obligated to defend his four titles against Wardley, opted out of facing the Ipswich fighter, marking 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 initially planned to retire after one more fight. However, he recently announced his intention to continue competing for an additional two years. Wardley’s journey to becoming a world champion is remarkable, starting his career in the white-collar boxing scene without an amateur background but achieving success in the professional arena since 2017.
With an impressive record of 20 wins, one draw, and no losses, including 19 knockouts, Wardley has triumphed over notable opponents like Justis Huni, David Adeleye, Nick Gorman, and Nick Webb. The only blemish on his record is a draw with Frazer Clarke, which was later rectified with a first-round TKO victory in their immediate rematch.
Although Wardley expressed eagerness to face Usyk, he ultimately did not need to confront the current heavyweight champion to fulfill his dream of becoming a world titleholder. This marks the second occasion where Usyk has relinquished a title, having previously given up his IBF championship to engage in a rematch with Tyson Fury instead of facing the mandatory challenger, Dubois.
As Wardley is celebrated as the new WBO heavyweight champion, his promoter, Frank Warren, hailed the achievement as a significant moment in the sport. Warren praised Wardley’s accomplishment, foreseeing exciting matchups in 2026 as the newly crowned champion defends his WBO belt and solidifies his legacy in boxing.