Just 23 days after his dramatic comeback stoppage of Joseph Parker, Fabio Wardley is officially the new WBO world heavyweight champion. The development comes after the sanctioning body confirmed it received formal notice that undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk has relinquished the belt a move described by the WBO as a “respectful pause, not a farewell.”
Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs), who turns 31 next month, has spent the morning reposting the news across social media as British fight fans celebrate the country’s newest heavyweight titleholder. The timing is notable: the announcement lands during fight week for two other Britons competing for world championships on the stacked Ring IV card in Riyadh.