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Britain's heavyweight contender will be upgraded to heavyweight title holder after Oleksandr Usyk opted to give up his championship belt

This situation arises after the champion told boxing authorities he would not proceed with a obligatory title fight against the British challenger

Boxing Organization's Position

The championship body announced that Usyk had "elected to relinquish his championship following careful thought"

The Ukrainian maintains the three major championship belts, having defeated Daniel Dubois at the national stadium in the summer month to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion

He first became the complete unified champion in spring 2024 by overcoming Tyson Fury, before vacating another belt a month afterwards and choosing to avoid the required opponent

"WBO president Olivieri called Usyk "a champion of champions" in a announcement"

"The WBO extends its deep appreciation and respect to Oleksandr Usyk, an undefeated, two-division WBO undisputed world champion"

"His achievements mark one of the most extraordinary and historic of the modern boxing era"

The WBO added that its organization will always welcome Usyk and his team"

Championship History

Usyk won the world title in two years ago by defeating Anthony Joshua and went on to protect his title repeatedly

In mid-year, the championship body required discussions for a mandatory defence against interim champion Joseph Parker, only for a champion's back problem to cause the delay of the fight

Wardley's Rise

But Wardley, took the interim title from the New Zealander with a huge upset in the championship rounds at the famous London arena recently and was required to challenge Usyk before the end of September

The championship body still needs to verify Wardley's promotion but his manager Warren believes it is a certainty

"England has a new heavyweight world champion and a emerging fighting personality"

"A truly extraordinary path I've seen in my 45 years as a promoter and I could not be prouder of Fabio Wardley"

"Major contests coming up for 2026 as he protects his championship and establishes his place in the sport"

The champion started fighting relatively late, emerging from the amateur circuit and has had just 21 professional fights

What's Next

• Wardley's expected promotion signals a major shift in heavyweight boxing
• The champion's choice to vacate the belt opens new opportunities for other contenders
• The boxing world now anticipates verification from the WBO
• The champion's path from unconventional beginning to championship status continues to capture attention