Fabio Wardley has officially been crowned the WBO heavyweight champion following Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate the title. The Ukrainian boxer, who had previously unified the heavyweight titles by defeating Daniel Dubois in July, relinquished the WBO belt after thoughtful consideration, leaving Wardley as the new champion. This move marks the end of Usyk’s brief reign as the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Wardley, who had previously claimed the interim WBO title with a dramatic 11th-round stoppage victory over Joseph Parker, was next in line for a showdown with Usyk. However, with Usyk’s decision to vacate, Wardley’s rise to the full champion status was confirmed. The 30-year-old from the UK now joins an exclusive group of British boxers to hold the WBO heavyweight title, including legends such as Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Henry Akinwande, Herbie Hide, and Michael Bentt.
Wardley’s journey to the WBO title has been nothing short of impressive. Beginning his career in white-collar boxing, he turned professional in 2017 and quickly made a name for himself with a string of victories. After an unexpected split-decision draw with Frazer Clarke in March 2024, Wardley bounced back in spectacular fashion, knocking out Clarke in the first round in their rematch. He then secured a major win over Justis Huni, which earned him the opportunity to challenge Joseph Parker for the interim title.
Now that Wardley has officially been named the WBO heavyweight champion, his promoter, Frank Warren, has expressed his pride in the boxer’s achievements, labeling him as “one of the most incredible stories” in his 45 years of promoting. With this victory, Wardley’s next challenge will be to defend his newly acquired title and establish a lasting legacy in the heavyweight division. There is already speculation that Wardley could be involved in some high-profile bouts in 2026 as he begins his reign as champion.
As the sixth Briton to hold the WBO heavyweight title, Wardley’s triumph adds another chapter to the storied history of British boxing dominance in the heavyweight division. Fans and experts alike are eager to see how he will handle the pressure of defending his title against the top contenders in the division.
