WBO champion Fabio Wardley is flirting with a mega-fight against Tyson Fury – if Usyk is not available.
Fabio Wardley has barely won the WBO heavyweight title when he is already bringing big names into play. The unbeaten Brit declared that he would not avoid a fight against Tyson Fury if another mega-duel – for example an undisputed fight against Oleksandr Usyk – does not materialize.
“I’d do it in a heartbeat,” Wardley told Sky Sports Boxing. “It’s a fight I’d really fancy. Any time.” The background to this is the currently unclear situation surrounding Anthony Joshua, whose planned duel with Fury has been postponed for the time being following a tragic car accident in Nigeria.
For Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs), however, another opponent remains at the top of his wish list: Oleksandr Usyk. “That’s the fight I want the most,” said the new WBO champion. However, as Usyk is currently in talks about a duel with Deontay Wilder, Wardley is looking at alternatives. Alongside Fury, another prominent name has also emerged: Derek Chisora. The veteran is facing his 50th and last professional fight and is looking for as big a final as possible. “A world championship fight would probably be the perfect conclusion,” explained Wardley.
Wardley was originally scheduled to be Usyk’s mandatory challenger after he spectacularly stopped Joseph Parker in October. But Usyk resigned the WBO belt, opening new doors. “I used to chase titles,” says Wardley. “Now I have one myself – and suddenly they’re chasing me.”
Text by Robin Josten