The two-time undisputed heavyweight champion was due to fight Fabio Wardley in 2026, but decided against a showdown with the Ipswich native
Oleksandr Usyk has brutally explained why he snubbed Fabio Wardley after being ordered to face the rising British star.
Just days after he knocked out Daniel Dubois for a second time back in July at Wembley Stadium, the Ukrainian was ordered to defend his WBO heavyweight title against Joseph Parker or risked losing the belt altogether. The 38-year-old then requested an extension on negotiations after sustaining minor injuries in his bout with ‘Triple. D.’
Not long after, though, footage emerged of the heavyweight king dancing whilst attending a concert – which prompted the WBO to launch an investigation. Usyk was eventually granted a 90-day extension to agree a fight with Parker. The Kiwi heavyweight put his mandatory status on the line back in October after accepting a fight with Wardley.
In an epic back-and-forth dust-up at the O2 Arena, Wardley stunned the masses by knocking Parker out in the eleventh round to claim the interim title – setting up a clash with Usyk. The Ukrainian had other ideas after he eventually decided to relinquish his WBO title – with Wardley then being promoted to full champion.
Just weeks after his stunning decision, Usyk has revealed exactly he turned down a fight with Wardley, explaining how he was more interested in a fight with Parker. “Listen, for me, very important belt. Because I win this belt. When I say ‘hey listen, you must protect the WBC belt.’ Yeah, I can do it, but not now because… I have had a very hard year and a half with Tyson Fury… two fights and prepare for fight and then the Daniel Dubois war,” he told Boxing King Media.
The two-time undisputed heavyweight champion continued: “I do not mind. I do it, but not now. This is like a sport and business. If, when (Joseph) Parker, for me, it is interesting. Win (Fabio) Wardley. For me, it is not interesting. I say it’s true. ‘Ok I give you belt.’ Maybe later we fight together like a big fight.”
Usyk was not surprised by the outcome at all back in October, and despite issuing a brutal putdown of his fellow heavyweight star, the Ukrainian has nothing but respect for the Ipswich brawler. “No. For me, not surprised because I work with Wardley. I think he is a great fighter and a good guy…. he’s a crazy man. I very respect this guy because this guy do a lot of work. I think he is a great man.”
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Wardley himself was left shocked by his rival’s decision. “I don’t necessarily know if I can (understand),” he told Sky Sports. “I don’t know what he may be planning for himself, whether that be retirement, whether it be a different fight, whether it be another alternative.
“Obviously, we’re seeing loads of variations with fighters and what they’re doing with their careers at the moment, whether they’re pivoting into different sports, or taking breaks and then coming back. It was a bit of a strange one, because initially he took a bit of a break. He was allowed an absence, an extension on the belt, and then to give it up just seems a bit of a strange move. I’m not too sure what he was thinking.”
Usyk – who turns 39 in January – rather cryptically claimed he may not be done with undisputed glory just yet and may be open to a showdown with Wardley. Speaking at a recent WBC convention over in Thailand, he revealed: “Listen, I have four belts, now three. People say, ‘Hey, you’re not undisputed champion.’ Okay, that is temporary.”
