Fabio becomes WBO champion as Usyk vacates title

Fabio Wardley has been elevated to full WBO heavyweight champion, following Oleksandr Usyk’s vacating the title on Monday. 

Wardley, who defeated Joseph Parker in October to become the interim WBO champion, had thought he would have to cross paths with Usyk before having a shot at the title. 

But, in a shocking move, Usyk announced to the WBO that he would not be proceeding with a defence fight against Wardley, and would give up the belt instead. 

Undefeated in 21 fights, Wardley is currently the sixth British boxer to hold the WBO title and the 11th heavyweight champion from the country, joining the likes of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. 

His career trajectory has been swift: beginning his professional journey in 2017, he gradually built a record through consistent wins and notable knockouts. 

His path hasn’t been without difficulty, including a draw against Frazer Clarke in 2024 and a quick victory over the same opponent a few months later, followed by a knockout of Justis Huni. These achievements earned Wardley his title fights and recognition as one of Britain’s promising heavyweights.

The World Boxing Organisation confirmed the receipt of formal notification from Usyk’s team that he would not defend the title. 

Usyk’s choice is a sign of his focus on retaining and unifying other heavyweight titles, having recently successfully defended his undisputed status by defeating Daniel Dubois and previously claimed Tyson Fury’s titles.

Usyk originally became the undisputed heavyweight champion in 2024, and while he has vacated some belts during his reign due to mandatory defence obligations, he maintains a strong presence in the heavyweight class. 

Reacting to the news of Wardley’s new status as champion, promoter Frank Warren described it as “one of the most incredible stories I’ve seen in my 45 years as a promoter,” reflecting his immense pride for the fighter. 

Warren also mentioned that the next thing was setting up Wardley for a title defence in 2026.