BoxRec

WBA orders Kubrat Pulev-Fabio Wardley, grants Oleksandr Usyk an exception

The WBA has ordered “regular” heavyweight titleholder Kubrat Pulev to face No. 1 contender Fabio Wardley, while granting unified champion Oleksandr Usyk a 24-month period in which to fulfill his mandatory obligations.

The Pulev-Wardley order came down Wednesday, setting the mandatory defense period between March 5 and April 4. A direct message to WBA President Gilberto Mendoza seeking to clarify whether the fight must take place or merely be agreed upon within that window did not receive an immediate response.

The winner of Pulev-Wardley – or Pulev in the event of a draw – must then face No. 3 contender Michael Hunter within 120 days, the WBA states in their resolution.

Bulgaria’s 43-year-old Pulev, 32-3 (14 KOs), last fought in December, defeating Mahmoud Charr to win the sanctioning body’s “regular” belt. The 30-year-old Wardley, 18-0-1 (17 KOs), of Ipswich, England, is coming off his breakout performance, following up a draw against domestic rival Frazer Clarke by scoring a first-round TKO in their October rematch.

The WBA resolution acknowledges that its “super” champion, Usyk, who solidified his position as the heavyweight champ with another win over Tyson Fury, last fulfilled his mandatory obligations in August 2023 when he defeated Daniel Dubois, the current IBF titleholder. Typically, the WBA stipulates that its belt holders must defend their titles every nine months against a mandatory challenger. That rule is being altered for Usyk.

“The intention is to allow the fighter to pursue bouts against the most relevant opponents in the division,” reads the resolution.

“Usyk has been involved in highly significant fights for boxing, marking a new era in the sport. For this reason, the Championship Committee, based on the internal regulations and the current global boxing landscape, has focused on fostering high-quality fights through activity and competition. This is why his mandatory defense period has been extended, allowing him the flexibility to seek the best possible matchups.”

not a bad fight for fabby, he'd beat koobs

yep. AJ took 9 rounds to stop Pulev, reckon Fab could do it quicker to the old man now

Let's hope this gets done. I like Fabio a lot, great attitude. Tough bloke.

Easy nights wok for Wardely. Pulev is 7/8 years past his best form, and only a couple of stoppage victories in the last 10 years.

Twinkle Toes wrote: ↑05 Mar 2025, 19:33 Easy nights wok for Wardely. Pulev is 7/8 years past his best form, and only a couple of stoppage victories in the last 10 years.

And will be in prime position for the big belt

Wouldn't mind seeing this at Portman Road where the Blue Army can come out on mass to support one of our own in the shape of Fabio Wardley who I have met, and I've never felt so physically small in my life (and I am 6ft3 and about 15 and a half stone), but he's a great guy and I hope allegedly and Mark Ashton who is Chairman and Chief Exec at Ipswich Town can make this happen.

Coco wrote: ↑05 Mar 2025, 19:59

Twinkle Toes wrote: ↑05 Mar 2025, 19:33 Easy nights wok for Wardely. Pulev is 7/8 years past his best form, and only a couple of stoppage victories in the last 10 years.

And will be in prime position for the big belt

Yes!
Excited about that prospect. Fab's has definitely earned his domestic status and it has taken a while to move on because of his late entry into the sport, but the time seems right.

Twinkle Toes wrote: ↑05 Mar 2025, 19:33 Easy nights wok for Wardely. Pulev is 7/8 years past his best form, and only a couple of stoppage victories in the last 10 years.

I disagree that it will be an easy nights work as pulev is a wily operator / knows all the tricks and doesnt get stopped easy .

Fabio will win by stoppage late but will maybe have show a lot of patience I think and not go rushing in gung ho ..

Good fight for his development too

If you are frank (with some turki cash) you get wardly Va pulev asap… then get wardly vs noses for the “wba world title” and the “British title” befor he is older than when Mike Tyson won it…

Hunter is a spanner in the works, but it’s just a wba regular shot, should be able to either pay him off, or give him an a alternate fight (Whyte Mabey, same money but easier fight…)

stevec@france wrote: ↑06 Mar 2025, 17:17

Twinkle Toes wrote: ↑05 Mar 2025, 19:33 Easy nights wok for Wardely. Pulev is 7/8 years past his best form, and only a couple of stoppage victories in the last 10 years.

I disagree that it will be an easy nights work as pulev is a wily operator / knows all the tricks and doesnt get stopped easy .

Fabio will win by stoppage late but will maybe have show a lot of patience I think and not go rushing in gung ho ..

I see Pulev as being a little too easy to hit these days and he's slowed down a lot. I foresee Pulev taking a bit of a shellacking tbh.

Pulevs euro style has granted him career longevity , but he will be 44 by the time this fight happens… and at 44 I just can not believe he will be able to hold wardly off especially with his lack of power (dosent have a single impressive stoppage in the last decade…)

I’d expect wardly to blitz him out of there in a round or 2

Fabio’s fab but why’s he joined the senior tour?

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑07 Mar 2025, 04:30 Fabio’s fab but why’s he joined the senior tour?

bcos he needs to get rounds and develop better in fight skills and adaptability.

he was almost stopped in the first clarke fight and has learned from it but you cant just rely on blowing away better fighters in a round or two.

Yeh great learning fight but billing it as a world hw title adds the comedy factor

Pulev is a skilled and tricky heavyweight who is very capable of spoiling but he's way past it and Wardley brings power.

Decent business move for Wardley for sure, ridiculous as it is.

Pulev was limited in his prime, never mind now, this should be easy money for Wardley and a negotiating chip for future fights.

Is it not time the WBA retired this embarrassing ordinary champ strap?

Talk about devaluing your brand.

Billy Tully wrote: ↑07 Mar 2025, 11:21 Is it not time the WBA retired this embarrassing ordinary champ strap?

Talk about devaluing your brand.

Absolutely they should. But then devaluing their brand has been a WBA speciality for 60 years.

Flump wrote: ↑07 Mar 2025, 12:47

Billy Tully wrote: ↑07 Mar 2025, 11:21 Is it not time the WBA retired this embarrassing ordinary champ strap?

Talk about devaluing your brand.

Absolutely they should. But then devaluing their brand has been a WBA speciality for 60 years.

Agree but in the 90s it was one of the Big Three glamour belts. Then in 2000 they had John Ruiz as champ and in 2001 they introduced the disgusting super/regular champ swindle and they've been a non stop joke ever since. And it's all self-inflicted!

Any news on this? Fabio has vacated the British, right? When is he fighting Pulev and who are the two boys who will fight for the vacant British belt?

Jimmy2025 wrote: ↑24 Mar 2025, 15:57 Any news on this? Fabio has vacated the British, right? When is he fighting Pulev and who are the two boys who will fight for the vacant British belt?

Adeleye vs Tshikeva next weekend is for the vacant British belt

joshj909 wrote: ↑24 Mar 2025, 16:29

Jimmy2025 wrote: ↑24 Mar 2025, 15:57 Any news on this? Fabio has vacated the British, right? When is he fighting Pulev and who are the two boys who will fight for the vacant British belt?

Adeleye vs Tshikeva next weekend is for the vacant British belt

Thanks, not sure how I missed seeing that.

Who are you picking in that one? I understand their spars have always been fairly even.