Oleksandr Usyk vacates WBO heavyweight title as Fabio Wardley becomes new champion
Oleksandr Usyk has relinquished his WBO heavyweight boxing title, and Fabio Wardley has been named the new title-holder
Fabio Wardley is set to be crowned heavyweight world champion after Oleksandr Usyk gave up his belt.
Wardley stopped Joseph Parker in the 11th round of a thrilling clash last month to become interim WBO champion. Usyk had already been ordered to defend his four belts against the Ipswich man but has opted out of what would have been his ninth meeting with a Brit.
The Ukrainian has twice reigned as the undisputed world champion following wins over Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois. He had planned to fight just once more but recently revealed he plans to continue for another two years.
Wardley’s crowning as world champion would represent an incredible culmination of a career which began in the white-collar scene. He had no amateur career but has won all but one of his professional fights since joining the paid ranks in 2017.
His stellar record of 20 wins, zero losses, and one draw also comprises 19 knockouts in total, seeing his hand raised over the likes of Justis Huni, David Adeleye, Nick Gorman, and Nathan Webb.
The only man to hold Wardley to a draw to date and smudge his otherwise unblemished record is Frazer Clarke, who initially shared the squared-circle with the 30-year-old last March.
However, their instant rematch, which took place in October of the very same year, saw any questions pertaining to who is the better boxer answered, as Wardley secured a first-round TKO of the Burton-born bruiser.
Fabio Wardley is the new WBO heavyweight champion
Wardley had been keen on taking on the challenge against Usyk, recently telling Sky Sports: "That has been the goal for a number of years now. That’s been the objective. That’s been everything I’ve wanted."
Britain has a new heavyweight world champion and a new star of the sport.
— Frank Warren (@FrankWarren) November 17, 2025
One of the most incredible stories I’ve seen in my 45 years as a promoter and I could not be prouder of @FabioWardley.
Some huge fights ahead for 2026 as he defends his WBO belt and creates a true legacy… pic.twitter.com/XYapl0vs9n
However, no fight against the ’baddest man on the planet’ at present was needed in the end for Wardley to achieve his dreams of becoming a world champion.
It’s the second time in Usyk’s career that he has given up a belt, passing on his IBF title last year as a result of taking an instant rematch with Fury rather than facing the organization’s mandatory challenger in Dubois.
Technology & Business Editor
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