Oleksandr Usyk has relinquished his WBO heavyweight title, promoting Fabio Wardley to full champion status. The Ukrainian opted to vacate the belt rather than defend it against the unbeaten Briton, ending his brief reign as undisputed heavyweight champion.
Wardley, 30, earned the interim title with an 11th-round stoppage of Joseph Parker last month. The WBO mandated a fight between Wardley and Usyk by the end of September, but Usyk formally notified the organisation of his decision to vacate after 'thoughtful consideration', the WBO announced on Monday.
Usyk unified the world titles by defeating then-IBF champion Daniel Dubois in July, becoming undisputed champion for a second time. However, he chose to make his spell short-lived, paving the way for Wardley's elevation.
Frank Warren, Wardley's promoter, hailed the development on X: 'Britain has a new heavyweight world champion and a new star of the sport. One of the most incredible stories I've seen in my 45 years as a promoter and I could not be prouder of Fabio Wardley. Some huge fights ahead for 2026 as he defends his WBO belt and creates a true legacy in the sport.'
Wardley began his career in white-collar boxing before turning professional in 2017, amassing 17 straight wins. After a split-decision draw with Frazer Clarke in March 2024, he beat Clarke in one round seven months later and subsequently came from behind to stop Justis Huni, earning his shot at Parker. He becomes the sixth Briton to hold the WBO heavyweight title, following Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Henry Akinwande, Herbie Hide and Michael Bentt.
