Britain has a new heavyweight champion as Oleksandr Usyk lets go of belt

Fabio Wardley is the new WBO heavyweight champion. 

Just weeks after registering the biggest win of his career when he stopped Jospeh Parker to land the interim crown, Wardley has now been upgraded to full champion meaning that he is now Britain’s only heavyweight beltholder. 

The decision was made to award Wardley the title when it was announced that Oleksandr Usyk would be relinquishing the belt rather than making an immediate mandatory defence against the Ipswich man. The next move of Usyk is still uncertain. 

For Wardley, the achievement of becoming heavyweight champion borders on miraculous after he turned professional without any amateur experience. 

A former white-collar fighter with only a handful of bouts, Wardley initial run in the sport saw him pick up a wealth of experience as Dillian Whyte’s sparring partner. 

Matched expertly along the way, it was 2024 when Wardley had his breakout year when he recovered from a draw against Olympic medallist, Frazer Clarke, to stop him in one round in a rematch. 

Drawing a big crowd against Justin Huni at Ipswich Town’s Portman and Road, Wardley overcame a mini crisis against the Australian as he scored a late knockout after being dominated for large portions of the bout. 

A major underdog against Parker, Wardley once again upset the odds as he continued to push forward against the former world champion before one last assault was enough to secure him a late stoppage win. 

Now world champion, Wardley has several options in front of him with the likes of Usyk, Anthony Joshua, and Tyson Fury all set to be on his radar in 2026.