Oleksandr Usyk vs. Fabio Wardley - 2026 - Who wins?

[Ruthless-RKO]

OLEKSANDR USYK VS. FABIO WARDLEY COULD TAKE PLACE IN MARCH, WARREN SAYS

Frank ‘Warren is targeting a March date for Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed title defence against mandatory challenger Fabio Wardley.

And the Hall of Fame promoter has revealed that the fight will land at either London's Wembley Stadium or in Riyadh.

Wardley stopped Joseph Parker in the 11th round of their 02 Arena thriller on Saturday night to book his crack at four-belt king Usyk, The Ring’s No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter.

Now the 30-year-old from Ipswich will return home for some down time with his partner and young daughter before returning to camp ahead of a career-defining clash with Usyk in the spring.

“The fight [between Usyk and Wardley] has been ordered, so there will be a period of negotiations now," Warren said. "And if we can’t reach an agreement, then it will go out for purse bids. I believe we will reach an agreement.

“The fight won’t be until next year, of course. I think it will be some time in March.”

Usyk’s two consecutive victories over Tyson Fury in 2024 both took place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. He reclaimed his IBF title to become a three-time undisputed champion via victory over Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July.

Wardley, too, has fond memories of the Saudi capital having stopped both David Adeleye and Frazer Clarke there, while London has also been a happy hunting ground, although he is yet to box at Wembley Stadium. Now Warren says he could get that chance.

“I’d love it to be in the UK, but there are only two places for this fight and that’s either in Riyadh or here in London, that’s it. I’d do it at Wembley Stadium and it would be a sell out," Warren said.

“You know what you’re getting with Usyk, and you know what you’re getting with Fabio; it’s going to be exciting. Fabio has got to be one of the most exciting fighters in the world.

“As a draw, Fabio is one of the biggest draws in boxing. In his last fight at Ipswich, he drew 27,000 people to a football stadium in heavy rain. Then tonight shows he’s a massive attraction, and it will only get bigger.”

Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs), who has famously transformed from a white-collar fighter with zero amateur experience to the No.1 contender for the undisputed heavyweight, has the highest knockout percentage of any other contender in the division.

Parker was the latest to join Wardley’s hit list, but he couldn’t do it to all-time great Usyk, could he?

“Correct me if I’m wrong, he couldn’t do it to Parker, according to the bookmakers, either,” Warren said. “He couldn’t do it to anyone. But you know what? He keeps doing it. That’s a fact of life.

“As everyone was saying before the fight, there are levels. There are levels, but then there is Fabio Wardley, who has got a leveler. If he catches you with it, you’re out of the game.

“Of course Usyk will be a massive favourite, I understand that. But if Fabio catches him, he will have to have an extraordinary chin to stand that force.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fabio Wardley, Oleksandr Usyk's new mandatory, calls out the champion

Fabio Wardley, the English everyman who has stormed the gates of the heavyweight division, added the latest chapter to his growing canon by blitzing Joseph Parker to earn an 11th-round stoppage and an interim title belt Saturday at London’s O2 Arena.

The dizzying rise of Wardley, 20-0-1 (18 KOs), from white-collar-fights moonlighter to unlikely professional to unimaginable heavyweight world titlist is a story that has lacked for almost nothing – including an irrational but definitive self-confidence from the 30-year-old from Ipswich, UK.

“I’ve got one thing – and one thing only – to say,” Wardley told DAZN and the O2 crowd after the fight, sing-songing the name of the man he is now theoretically in line to face: “Usyk! Usyk!”

The Parker defeat and the interim belt elevated Wardley to the WBO’s mandatory slot, which technically comes with the right to next face undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, 24-0 (15 KOs). As satisfying as that might be to fans salivating over the thought of a real-life Rocky-versus-Apollo matchup, it seems unlikely after Usyk already declined a Parker fight (due to injury claims) and is seemingly locked into the idea of maximizing his career twilight with the biggest, most lucrative fights.

But who knows? Wardley has already beaten all the odds and every conventional thought to make it this far.

"I said all the way through this build-up that we picked Joseph Parker because I believe I'm at the top, and I proved I'm at the top,” Wardley said.

"For what I lack in experience, I make up for in chin, heart and determination. I told everyone I wasn't losing today and that belt will be mine. I did everything I said I would do.”

But Wardley was also quick to acknowledge his opportunities, a foothold here and a helping hand there – stars aligning just so to allow him to sidestep his absence of amateur experience and make the climb to the highest ranks of boxing’s glamor division in just eight years.

"All credit to Joseph Parker,” Wardley said. “He can't get enough respect from him, and he deserves all the respect from the boxing community. He took a chance when he didn't have to, and we knew he wasn't going anywhere quickly. We had to pick our spots and eventually we got them out of there.

"Aside from that, It's down to Dillian White. I would still be lost in small halls, fighting at York Hall every few months, not hearing of me. He picked me out of the rough and changed my life. He deserves everything from me."

Almost everything, it seems. Wardley gave one final credit before signing off for the night.

"This is boxing, not football – but they are my 12th man on the pitch,” he said of his fans. “They are the extra fire to get Joe out of there. As much as I commend me and my team, it's the fans who travel up and down the country and across the world that shout my name. Thank you, everyone. I couldn't have done this without you."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Wardley will fight Oleksandr Usyk next
Frank ‘Warren adamant Fabio Wardley will fight

The best laid plans of mice, men and fight promoters often go awry. But on Saturday, following Fabio Wardley’s thrilling 11th-round stoppage of Joseph Parker to win an interim heavyweight title, Frank ‘Warren was adamant.

"It's really simple: Oleksandr [Usyk] is a great champion,” Warren told DAZN after the fight. “His next fight will be against Fabio Wardley for the four belts. It's what he deserves for that performance.

"He said he wants it, so that's what it'll be.”

Because boxing is so famous for giving its participants exactly what they want, Wardley, 20-0-1 (19 KOs), can expect to challenge Usyk, 24-0 (15 KOs), for the undisputed championship in the near future. But in the event that complications arise, we should pause for a moment to appreciate all that Wardley has accomplished.

A 30-year-old from Ipswich, Suffolk, UK, Wardley graduated from a handful of white-collar boxing fights to the pros without the benefit of a single round of amateur experience. The latest of bloomers, Wardley turned professional in 2017 as a 22-year-old novice. After winning a four-rounder on points in his debut, he has clubbed his way from small halls to London’s O2 and Wembley Arenas to the precipice of fighting for boxing’s greatest prize: the heavyweight championship of the world.

"Fabio's is a story I've never seen before,” said Warren, whose Queensberry Promotions counts Wardley among the fighters on its roster. “Honestly, I'm amazed that someone who has zero amateur experience, with 20 fights, comes out and beats a [former] world champion.”

Wardley had to withstand and chip away at the big-swinging, iron-chinned Parker. But Wardley broke through in the 10th round, when New Zealand’s 33-year-old Parker finally began showing vulnerability. Wardley scarcely let him see daylight after that.

"He is so right with what he says,” Warren said of Wardley. “It is a 36-minute fight, but it only takes one second for him – and he does it time and time again.”

Would Wardley have a prayer of turning the trick against Usyk? Will he even get the chance? There isn’t much point in ruminating on it until Usyk (who, citing injury, already turned down a fight against Parker) reciprocates Wardley’s interest.

In the meantime, Warren has Saturday night to celebrate.

"What a fight,” Warren said. “That was edge-of-your-seat stuff. Credit to both of them."

[Coco]

Uysk will get old, but no signs of it yet

[joshj909]

Usyk is better than Parker at everything. Usyk wins.

Is Wardley now both interim WBA and WBO champ/mandatory? That would help tidy some things up.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Usyk is better than Parker at everything. Usyk wins.

Is Wardley now both interim WBA and WBO champ/mandatory? That would help tidy some things up.

Apparently the fight last night was just the WBO interim championship.

Trust WBA to promote Moses to Interim champion soon. Haha

[joshj909]

Usyk is better than Parker at everything. Usyk wins.

Is Wardley now both interim WBA and WBO champ/mandatory? That would help tidy some things up.

Apparently the fight last night was just the WBO interim championship.

Trust WBA to promote Moses to Interim champion soon. Haha

I'm sure Frank has that in mind. Moses Vs Pulev or Pero next year to be interim champ and call him the youngest champ since Tyson.

[Ruthless-RKO]

OLEKSANDR USYK VS. FABIO WARDLEY COULD TAKE PLACE IN MARCH, WARREN SAYS

Promoter Frank ‘Warren is targeting a March date for Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed title defence against mandatory challenger Fabio Wardley.

And the Hall of Fame promoter has revealed that the fight will land at either London's Wembley Stadium or in Riyadh.

Wardley stopped Joseph Parker in the 11th round of their 02 Arena thriller on Saturday night to book his crack at four-belt king Usyk, The Ring’s No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter.

Now the 30-year-old from Ipswich will return home for some down time with his partner and young daughter before returning to camp ahead of a career-defining clash with Usyk in the spring.

“The fight [between Usyk and Wardley] has been ordered, so there will be a period of negotiations now," Warren said. "And if we can’t reach an agreement, then it will go out for purse bids. I believe we will reach an agreement.

“The fight won’t be until next year, of course. I think it will be some time in March.”

Usyk’s two consecutive victories over Tyson Fury in 2024 both took place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. He reclaimed his IBF title to become a three-time undisputed champion via victory over Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July.

Wardley, too, has fond memories of the Saudi capital having stopped both David Adeleye and Frazer Clarke there, while London has also been a happy hunting ground, although he is yet to box at Wembley Stadium. Now Warren says he could get that chance.

“I’d love it to be in the UK, but there are only two places for this fight and that’s either in Riyadh or here in London, that’s it. I’d do it at Wembley Stadium and it would be a sell out," Warren said.

“You know what you’re getting with Usyk, and you know what you’re getting with Fabio; it’s going to be exciting. Fabio has got to be one of the most exciting fighters in the world.

“As a draw, Fabio is one of the biggest draws in boxing. In his last fight at Ipswich, he drew 27,000 people to a football stadium in heavy rain. Then tonight shows he’s a massive attraction, and it will only get bigger.”

Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs), who has famously transformed from a white-collar fighter with zero amateur experience to the No.1 contender for the undisputed heavyweight, has the highest knockout percentage of any other contender in the division.

Parker was the latest to join Wardley’s hit list, but he couldn’t do it to all-time great Usyk, could he?

“Correct me if I’m wrong, he couldn’t do it to Parker, according to the bookmakers, either,” Warren said. “He couldn’t do it to anyone. But you know what? He keeps doing it. That’s a fact of life.

“As everyone was saying before the fight, there are levels. There are levels, but then there is Fabio Wardley, who has got a leveler. If he catches you with it, you’re out of the game.

“Of course Usyk will be a massive favourite, I understand that. But if Fabio catches him, he will have to have an extraordinary chin to stand that force.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fabio Wardley 'not planning on rolling over for Oleksandr Usyk'

Fabio Wardley is relishing the prospect of fighting Oleksandr Usyk after stopping Joseph Parker to record his finest victory.

The 30 year old was behind on two of the three scorecards and drawing on the third when, in the 11th round at London’s O2 Arena, he forced the intervention of the referee Howard Foster and, in so doing, moved into position to challenge for the undisputed heavyweight title in 2026.

Wardley, a 21-fight professional who watched Anthony Joshua beat Parker from 2018 in a pub, entered professional boxing after a late introduction to the sport as a white-collar fighter. Victory over Parker gave him victory not only as the underdog but over a former world champion who was considered the favourite; it also, according to his promoter Frank ‘Warren, means that he will fight one of the finest heavyweights ever next.

Whether, aged 38, Ukraine’s Usyk will ever fight again remains uncertain, but Wardley can justifiably claim that he is the most deserving contender on the planet, and revealed that despite his inexperience, modest boxing background and technical limitations, it is a fight about which he has long allowed himself to dream.

“That has been the goal for a number of years now,” he said. “That’s been the objective. That’s been everything I’ve wanted. So, yeah, look, we’re there. It’s a wild one to say but one of the generational talents, one of the best ever, for all the marbles.

“There’s nothing more I could ask for. There’s nothing more I could want within this sport. Just like everything else that’s led me here, all I’ve ever asked for is the opportunity and I’ve got that and I’m not planning on stopping here. I’m not planning on getting in the ring with Usyk and going ‘Thanks for having me’ and just rolling over. That’s not what I’m about. I think you saw that [against Parker]. So, yeah, look, when that bell does go and me and Usyk do finally get in the ring, he’s going to have to work for it.

“[Instead of London’s Wembley Stadium] I think I’d like to go overseas. I think I’d like to do something somewhere overseas; bigger; something different. Maybe America. I haven’t been able to go over there yet. Something like that. I don’t know. Ultimately, it could be in my back garden. I wouldn’t care. Tell Usyk to turn up. Give him the directions to [my hometown of] Ipswich. I’ll give him my postcode. He can come find me and we can do it in the garden. I don’t care. As long as he’s there, bring his belts. Let’s get this on.

“All the bumps in the road have been what’s made me. All the delays when I first started out with my career and my debut [in 2017] being rescheduled a bunch of times and me not having the right management team to start off and then finding magic – the team and the guys and everything built me and built resilience. All the setbacks, all of you guys just saying I’m a white collar guy; I’m not gonna do that well. All of that builds resilience and that’s why when I’m in the ring on the night I don’t care if it’s not going my way. I don’t care if the judges don’t have me up. I believe in me. I know the people around me believe in me and all of that has built resilience for me to come through and it’s all been proven.”

Wardley’s limitations first appeared to have been exposed when in March 2024 he drew with Frazer Clarke in a fight for the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, but in their rematch little over six months later he then stopped his fellow Englishman inside a round.

Those same limitations appeared evident for nine rounds against Justis Huni in June, before, not unlike against Parker, he stopped the Australian in the 10th. The 33-year-old Parker, similarly, was mostly outboxing Wardley, who was the more tired of the two when he succeeded in transforming the momentum of their contest with his raw power in the 10th round. Pre-fight Parker, who had beaten Martin Bakole, Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder in successive contests, represented, after Usyk, the world’s most in-form heavyweight, but Wardley has inherited his status in the queue to fight the Ukrainian and enhanced his reputation as an entertaining contender who refuses to accept that he can be beaten.

“[The victories over Parker and Huni] were almost similar in a way, weren’t they?” he said. “Individually they’re special for different reasons to me. That Portland Road one [against Huni], not that it’s hard to be topped, but that has a different sense of meaning to it. But I’ve passed the point of knowing. I don’t know anymore. I’m just riding the wave. It’s been a wild ride, wild journey, and there’s nowhere near finished yet. I’ve still got a lot more to do, a lot more I want to take off in the sport, and there’s way more to come.

“I’m sure there’ll be a number of articles, whatever is written up, about how I was seconds away from losing or how I beat Parker but I’m not going to beat Usyk and this and that and whatever else. So, look, I’m not here to please everyone else. I’m here to chase my dream; chase my journey. As long as I go home, my family are happy with me, they love me, they’re proud of me and my team are proud of everything I’ve done, I don’t care. With all due respect I don’t care for what any of you have to say.

“I wasn’t [hurt by Parker]. I don’t want to say that to take away from Joe because it’s not that he’s a soft puncher at all. I just wasn’t hurt. I got caught being lazy. I got caught a bit wrong-footed. I over-committed with some shots and just got caught falling around a bit. But I wasn’t hurt. I wasn’t buzzed. You saw the way I came into it in the second round. I didn’t change anything. It wasn’t any different. Sometimes in spaces my work can be a bit sloppy and I get a bit annoyed with myself and let that get to me but I wasn’t hurt. I wasn’t buzzed and I was fine. Less experience as well. It’s funny. What am I now? Twenty-one fights in so still learning on the job.

“I was letting shots go and I was doing my best to try not to get too sloppy, but with 11 rounds in I’d already shipped a bunch of punches throughout the fight as well. I was in between staying composed and just letting my hands go, but I thought it was a bit of a now-or-never moment. I knew I probably wasn’t up on the cards, but it didn’t faze me. It didn’t bother me. I didn’t mind that at all. I knew that if I caught him I could keep the gas on; keep the pressure on. I’ve trained extremely hard for this. I’m extremely well conditioned. I knew all I had to do was get my shots off, stay in front of him and just keep landing punches. Maybe the ref could have called it a couple of shots earlier, but we are where we are.”

Both fighters made sacrifices to commit to Saturday’s contest. Parker, 33, was forced to abandon plans to be his brother’s best man at his wedding back in their home country of New Zealand and Wardley, for the first time, had to leave behind the new baby daughter born shortly after his stoppage of Huni.

“It’s a bit of a different life now,” he said. “I’m a dad, so this has been my first week away from my baby so it’s been a weird one. I’ve missed [her and partner Charlotte] tremendously so just looking forward to getting back to them.”

“It’s been ordered,” responded Warren when asked about the possibility of his improving heavyweight fighting the Ukrainian next. He has previously overseen two fights between Usyk and Tyson Fury, and Usyk and Daniel Dubois.

“There’ll be a period for purse negotiation; if we can’t reach an agreement then it will go out for purse bids. I believe we’ll come to an agreement. It won’t be ‘till next year, of course. I think it’ll be sometime in March or something like that.

“I’d love it to be in the UK but there’s only two places where it’ll happen. That’s either going to be in Riyadh [Saudi Arabia] or here and that’s it. You know what you’re getting with Usyk and you know what you’re getting with Fabio. It’s going to be exciting. This fella’s got to be one of the most exciting fighters in the world. Devastating.

“With all the criticism about this being a pay-per-view fight... Should have charged three times the money for it and you wouldn’t have got any complaints from anybody. Can I tell you something about pay-per-view? The reason we have pay-per-view is because fighters expect to get paid a certain amount of money. And if we can’t get a licence fee that gets us near to making the show viable and we’re not getting the government backing us or London backing us – this is not Riyadh – then we have to make it work. And the way you make it work is finding out the true worth for the boxers by pay-per-view. I believed the pay-per-view will do well and the boxers will do well and they should do after that. Unbelievable, epic fight that they put on for everybody.”

[MasterG]

I really don't see anything in Wardley that tells me he can walk over Usyk. He has a punchers chance, of course, but Usyk is a machine, different level imo.

[mickey1975]

I really don't see anything in Wardley that tells me he can walk over Usyk. He has a punchers chance, of course, but Usyk is a machine, different level imo.

The same as everyone else?

[gilgamesh]

I think Usyk is going to win a Unanimous Decision something like 9 rounds to 3 or 10 rounds to 2.

Wardley may have the youth on his side enough to be able to take some rounds when Usyk is needing to recoup a little to get his energy back, but for the most part I think Usyk will consistently be able to get through with the cleaner punches, and more of them.

I don't look for it to be particularly close. I hope I'm wrong.

[dr_devious]

I'd prefer to see Wardley v Dubois as he's got virtually zero chance against Usyk.

[Cyclops]

Usyk UD. There’s no quit in Wardley.

Wembley in March would be a bit cold, no?

[Cyclops]

I'd prefer to see Wardley v Dubois as he's got virtually zero chance against Usyk.

I’d rather Dubois vs Itauma.

It’s sad for Parker, but Wardley is a fun challenger for the throne and I like the fight. Wardley, Kabayel and then whoever is the heir apparent as a passing of the torch. Hopefully Itauma.

[coneye]

Well anyone who folliws boxing will ultimatly pick Usyk most will say easy win but personaly i ghink.it will be a good fight and dangerous fighf for Usyk
Fabio has a good chin. Lots say he has no defence . But look how he rode a lot of shots look how he often turned his shoulder in and made Joe t urn square on hence throwing arm punches . I dont know if it was practiced . Accident or natural . Then look how strong he is a few times just a shoulder into joe and joe stagerred back then throw in his obvious power and determination and you got a fight on your hands

[MasterG]

I really don't see anything in Wardley that tells me he can walk over Usyk. He has a punchers chance, of course, but Usyk is a machine, different level imo.

The same as everyone else?

I guess so Mick.

I'd like to think Wardley has a bloody good chance of winning, but unless Usyk has declined by the time they meet I just cannot see Wardley beating him.

But, on the other hand if Wardley can pull it off it will be a victory to celebrate for a long time.

[golden_labrador]

how about Kabayel vs. Wardley next? winner gets to meet Usyk

[Ricky]

Who's voting for Wardley here

[golden_labrador]

Well anyone who folliws boxing will ultimatly pick Usyk most will say easy win but personaly i ghink.it will be a good fight and dangerous fighf for Usyk
Fabio has a good chin. Lots say he has no defence . But look how he rode a lot of shots look how he often turned his shoulder in and made Joe t urn square on hence throwing arm punches . I dont know if it was practiced . Accident or natural . Then look how strong he is a few times just a shoulder into joe and joe stagerred back then throw in his obvious power and determination and you got a fight on your hands

i saw that early in the fight, Wardley pushed/shouldered Joe across the ring into the ropes. was quite surprising manhandling that big unit so easily. definitely lb for lb strong - and unorthodox - which might be his main hope against Usyk (but I've voted Usyk by TKO)

[londonwar]

i dont like any kind of sporting dominance (especially when its unexciting).

the fight will probably go the way of dubois or joshua. late and very dull knee or mind-numbingly boring decision.

however, im happy to make a case for Wardley if he just lets his hands go and works the body as well.

[IRONFIST]

Usyk stoppage win but wouldn't be surprised to see Wardley floor him along the way.

[Cyclops]

how about Kabayel vs. Wardley next? winner gets to meet Usyk

The winner of Wardley-Parker is a deserving enough fighter, surely? Both of them could’ve sat waiting on their shot but instead took on each other.

Unlike Kabayel, who unfortunately (probably due to his management and lack of pulling power) is in with the ancient Hysa who he should beat up easily.

Parker vs Kabayel makes more sense to me: or Parker in a redemption fight against Joshua. AJ still does numbers, doesn’t he?

[gregregegg]

I dont really want to see this... i just dont think wardly has done enough to get this shot. but its a fun fight... wardly is a bit of a wilder like figure, and i think you need one or 2 of them sniffing about the top of the division at any given time...

[gilgamesh]

how about Kabayel vs. Wardley next? winner gets to meet Usyk

If I were Wardley I'd never fight a dangerous opponent again until I get my title shot. We just saw Parker's shot go up in smoke.

If you're gonna clean out the divisions Top 5. You might as well do it as Champion.