Fabio Wardley will field in early spring subsequent yr and will make a defence of the WBO world title in opposition to former IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois.
Ipswich’s Wardley, a ‘white collar’ boxer who has grow to be an expert sensation, stopped Joseph Parker to win the WBO Interim strap and grow to be obligatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk although has now vacated the WBO world title and Wardley has been elevated to full world champion.
“When you look at him it’s a bit like a Cinderella story what he’s come from,” Wardley’s promoter Frank Warren informed Sky Sports activities. “No amateur background and champion of the world.
“He is performed it studying on the job, God bless him and good luck to him.”
Wardley is now anticipated battle subsequent within the first half of 2026.
“Next for him will be a defence of the title so he’ll have someone who’s ranked in the top 10,” Warren stated. “Hopefully we’ll do that early spring.”
A mouth-watering conflict with British rival Daniel Dubois, who’s No 5 with the WBO, is a possible choice, with different contenders like Filip Hrgovic and Derek Chisora additionally extremely ranked.
“They are all good fights. You never see him in a boring fight. Every time he gets in the ring it’s pure excitement. His last three knockouts, they would probably be number one, two and three knockouts of the year in whatever way you want to put them. He’s sensational, he’s shown what he’s all about,” Warren stated.
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Andy Scott explains why Oleksandr Usyk has relinquished the WBO heavyweight title after being ordered to face Fabio Wardley, and what this might imply for third battle in opposition to Tyson Fury
“He should be very proud of himself, I’m certainly proud of him. He will fight one of those guys. That’s what it’s going to be, a big fight for him. That’s all he’s looked for. He’s never ducked anybody, that’s all he’s talked about, is big fights.”
If Moses Itauma beats American contender Jermaine Franklin after they battle on January 24, the younger Briton would grow to be the obligatory challenger for Wardley’s WBO belt.
However each Itauma and Wardley work with the identical coach Ben Davison. That may complicate making a possible match-up between the 2.
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Heavyweight boxer Jermaine Franklin fancies his probabilities in opposition to Britain’s Moses Itauma
“It does. If they [the WBO] order it, they may not do it, it may not happen. They share a trainer and it’s certainly not something we’re looking at right this moment,” Warren stated.
Wardley is an thrilling fighter, who put in a star-making efficiency when he rallied to take out Parker.
With Wardley a brand new heavyweight world champion, Anthony Joshua and even Tyson Fury may now be fascinated about taking him on.
“They may do. I don’t know if AJ will want it but I’d much rather that he’d be fighting Fabio than fighting Jake [Paul],” Warren famous. “But he’s doing what he’s doing.”
AJ’s different choice
Joshua had American heavyweight Cassius Chaney on his shortlist earlier than accepting a shock battle with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami subsequent month.
Two-time unified world heavyweight champion Joshua has now confirmed he’ll battle Paul in Miami on Friday December 19. It is going to be Joshua’s first battle since his IBF world title problem in September of final yr resulted in a knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois.
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Heavyweight boxer Jermaine Franklin shares his opinion on Anthony Joshua’s matchup in opposition to Jake Paul
Paul is an sudden opponent for Joshua, who gained Olympic gold at super-heavyweight in 2012, and Chaney has confirmed that he was on a shortlist of potential opponents for Joshua to battle subsequent.
The 38-year-old Chaney from Baltimore has fought at heavyweight all through his professional profession, which started in 2015. He has 24 wins, with three defeats in 27 bouts, and has by no means been stopped.
Chaney’s most notable victory was a knockout win over Trevor Bryan, a former WBA heavyweight title holder in 2023.
He informed Sky Sports activities that he hoped to safe a possible battle in opposition to Joshua on this weekend’s David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde invoice in Saudi Arabia.
“It sucks to lose a great opportunity but it’s okay, it’s the business,” Chaney informed Sky Sports activities. “I’m happy to be knocking at the door. Everything works out in the end.”
