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England's Fabio Wardley is expected to be elevated to heavyweight title holder after Oleksandr Usyk opted to give up his world title

This development comes after Ukrainian fighter notified the WBO he would not proceed with a obligatory title fight against Wardley

WBO Statement

The WBO stated that Usyk had "elected to relinquish his title after thoughtful consideration"

Usyk continues to possess the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles, having defeated Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in mid-year to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion

He initially achieved the four-belt undisputed champion in May 2024 by beating Tyson Fury, before vacating another belt five weeks later and deciding not to fight the required opponent

"Organization head Gustavo Olivieri called Usyk "a champion of champions" in a statement"

"The WBO extends its sincere admiration and thanks to Usyk, an unbeaten multi-division champion"

"His achievements mark one of the most remarkable and significant of the modern boxing era"

The WBO added that its doors "will always remain open Usyk and his team"

Belt Timeline

The champion captured the world title in two years ago by beating the British star and went on to successfully defend multiple times

In July, the championship body required discussions for a obligatory championship fight against interim champion Joseph Parker, only for a Usyk's physical issue to cause the delay of the fight

Wardley's Rise

But Wardley, won the provisional belt from Parker with a huge upset in the 11th round at the famous London arena in the previous month and was mandated to face Usyk before the month's conclusion

The WBO is yet to officially confirm the British fighter's elevation but his representative believes it is a formality

"Britain has a new heavyweight world champion and a new star of the sport"

"A truly extraordinary path throughout my decades as a sports manager and I could not be more pleased for Wardley"

"Significant bouts in the future for 2026 as he protects his championship and establishes his place in the fighting community"

Wardley entered the sport at twenty years old, coming through the unlicensed white-collar scene and has had just 21 professional fights

Coming Challenges

• The likely championship upgrade signals a major shift in the division
• The Ukrainian's move to relinquish the title creates fresh possibilities for other contenders
• The sport now expects formal announcement from the WBO
• The champion's path from alternative background to title holder continues to inspire many