Heavyweight boxing king Oleksandr Usyk has sent a cryptic message to the sporting world, strongly suggesting his quest for undisputed supremacy is far from over despite recently relinquishing one of his world titles.
The Title Vacancy and Wardley's Promotion
The Ukrainian champion, 38, stunned the boxing community last month by giving up his WBO heavyweight belt. This decision came after he was ordered to defend it against interim champion Fabio Wardley, who earned his shot by stopping Joseph Parker in the 11th round in London this past October.
Usyk, who has not fought since his knockout victory over Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July in front of a crowd exceeding 90,000, opted to vacate instead. This move automatically promoted the Ipswich fighter, Wardley, to full world champion status.
Usyk's Cryptic Convention Comments
Speaking at the recent WBC convention in Thailand, where he shared a stage with legends Roberto Duran and Katie Taylor, Usyk addressed his changed status. “Listen, I have four belts, now three,” he told the audience. “People say, ‘Hey, you’re not undisputed champion.’ Okay, that is temporary.”
This pointed remark has been interpreted as a clear signal that the two-division undisputed champion is already plotting a path back to holding all the marbles in the heavyweight division, potentially setting up a future clash with the new champion, Wardley.
Behind the Scenes: A Deal That Unravelled
According to Wardley's manager, Michael Ofo, a fight between the two was closer than many realised. In an interview with talkSPORT, Ofo revealed that an 'agreement in principle' had been reached with Usyk's team on all terms before the champion unexpectedly backed out.
“I don't believe Parker's team did. All of the terms they wanted, we agreed to them, and then they backed out... I thought he was the type of champion who doesn't duck challenges,” Ofo stated.
Wardley himself expressed confusion at Usyk's choice, telling Sky Sports he was unsure if the move signalled “retirement, whether it be a different fight, or another alternative.” He described the decision to first take an extension and then vacate as “a bit of a strange move.”
Official Reason and Future Fights
Contrary to speculation, Usyk's camp has offered a different explanation for vacating the title. His manager, Sergey Lapin, told Pro Boxing Fans that the move was made “to give young boxers a chance to fight for it.”
Lapin even floated a potential blockbuster domestic showdown for the now-vacant crown, suggesting “Fabio Wardley vs. Moses Itauma would be a wonderful fight for both.” While the immediate future sees Wardley as champion, all eyes remain on Usyk and his promise that his status as an undisputed king is only temporarily on hold.
