Oleksandr Usyk relinquishes WBO heavyweight title after being told to defend against Fabio Wardley
Oleksandr Usyk has relinquished the WBO heavyweight title.
Fabio Wardley had emerged as the next challenger for Usyk after he earned the WBO interim title with a stunning 11th round-stoppage of Joseph Parker at The O2 last month and will now be elevated to full WBO champion, Sky Sports News understands.
Usyk was told by the WBO that he must face the Parker vs Wardley winner in September, but the Ukrainian’s second reign as undisputed champion is now over after the WBO confirmed he had vacated the belt.
Fabio Wardley has been crowned as the new WBO heavyweight champion
The unbeaten Wardley had welcomed a fight against Usyk, 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.”
But the Ipswich boxer has been denied the chance to challenge Usyk, who could have been defending all of his WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO belts against the Brit.
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Highlights of Joseph Parker’s heavyweight clash with Fabio Wardley at The O2 arena. (Credit: DAZN)
Wardley has extended his explosive record to 20 wins, with 19 knockouts, and just the solitary draw against Frazer Clarke, which he resolved with an emphatic first-round knockout in their rematch.
Usyk had cited an injury as the reason for not agreeing terms for a mandatory WBO title defence against Parker and the 38-year-old is yet to confirm his next career move since stopping Daniel Dubois to reclaim the IBF belt this summer.
