The official statement from the World Boxing Organization confirmed that Fabio Wardley is now considered the WBO heavyweight world champion. This came after Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk decided to vacate the title and notified the organization of his relinquishment of the absolute champion title.
Wardley, who became the interim champion in October after defeating Joseph Parker by knockout in the 11th round, had planned to fight Usyk by the end of September next year. However, Usyk, after "careful consideration," decided to vacate his title, thus ending his second term as the absolute champion.
Following this, the WBO declared Wardley the full-fledged world champion. The boxer's promoter, Frank Warren, called this event "one of the most remarkable career stories of the last few decades" and added that important title defenses are expected for Wardley in 2026.
Fabio Wardley began his boxing career in amateur tournaments and started his professional career in 2017. After 17 consecutive victories, his first fight with Frazer Clarke ended in a draw, but he won the rematch by knockout. His success over Justice Huni opened up the opportunity for him to compete for the title, ultimately leading him to achieve world championship status.
Now, Fabio Wardley has become the sixth British boxer to win the WBO heavyweight title, joining such renowned athletes as Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Henry Akinwande, Herbie Hide, and Michael Bentt.
