STWF Sports|Nov. 20, 2025 – Fabio Wardley admits he has been left scratching his head after Oleksandr Usyk’s surprising decision to vacate the WBO heavyweight world title, a move that abruptly — and anticlimactically — crowned the Ipswich fighter as a full world champion.
Wardley, 29, earned the right to challenge Usyk earlier this month when he shocked Joseph Parker with a stunning 11th-round stoppage to claim the WBO interim belt. The WBO had already mandated that the winner face Usyk next, setting the stage for a dream showdown between the Ukrainian great and Britain’s newest heavyweight threat.
Instead, Wardley received an email from the sanctioning body declaring him the new champion.
It was not the coronation he imagined.
Wardley: “I Don’t Know What He Was Thinking”
Speaking for the first time since becoming champion, Wardley confessed on Sky Sports that Usyk’s move caught him completely off guard.
“I don’t necessarily know if I can understand it,” Wardley said.
“I don’t know what he may be planning… retirement, another fight, another option.”
Usyk had initially been granted additional time to make a mandatory defense, leading Wardley to believe the undisputed titan intended to keep the belt.
“He was allowed an absence, an extension… and then to give it up just seems a strange move,” Wardley added.
“I’m not too sure what he was thinking.”
Wardley, who had reposted congratulatory messages on social media but avoided a formal statement, admitted the odd circumstances complicated what should have been the biggest moment of his career.
Still, the new WBO heavyweight champion has embraced the title — updating his social bios and looking ahead to a first defense in early 2026.
What’s Next for Usyk? Retirement? One Last Run?
While Wardley prepares for his first world title defense, the boxing world is left guessing at the next chapter for Oleksandr Usyk.
The Ukrainian superstar, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of his generation, has offered mixed signals about his future. Earlier this year, Usyk suggested his next fight might be his last. Recently, he contradicted that claim, saying he intends to fight until he is 41 years old.
Usyk turns 39 in January, meaning he could deliver two more years of elite-level boxing — much to the delight of fans.
And his form shows no signs of decline. In July, he dominated Daniel Dubois, stopping the British contender in five rounds at Wembley Stadium. That victory followed his historic triumph over Tyson Fury in May 2024, when he became the first man in the four-belt era to win undisputed heavyweight titles twice.
Walking away now would be understandable, but Usyk still appears motivated — even if relinquishing the WBO belt suggests a shift in priorities.
Wardley Enters the World Title Picture — But Wants Answers
For Wardley, the disappointment of missing out on the marquee Usyk fight is tempered by the reality that he now holds a legitimate world championship. Still, he had hoped to win the belt in the ring.
A first defense is expected in early 2026, likely against a top-five contender. As for Usyk, speculation ranges from a final mega-fight, to a move down in weight, to a less glamorous — but more financially lucrative — crossover bout.
Wardley, however, is content to move forward.
“Whatever he’s planning, that’s his business,” Wardley said.
“But now I’m world champion — and I want to show everyone why.”
A matchup between the two now appears unlikely. But in a heavyweight landscape always shifting, never say never.
