Frank Warren has provided his latest update regarding Fabio Wardley’s position as mandatory challenger to undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Wardley toppled the incumbent WBO interim titlist, Joseph Parker, this past weekend to replace him at the front of the queue for the Ukrainian, and Warren has insisted Usyk must fight the Brit or he will lose his WBO title and undisputed status.
“At the moment, the deal is that Usyk has to defend his WBO title against Fabio,” Warren said at the Joshua Buatsi vs Zach Parker final press conference on Thursday. “We are in negotiations, and if we can’t agree on terms, it will go to purse bids. Whoever wins that purse bid can determine where the fight will take place and the date.
“Contracts will have to be signed, and then Mr Usyk will either sign it or he won’t. If he signs it, we’ve got a fight. If he doesn’t, Fabio will be declared champion, and he will fight someone else.”
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Usyk has been enjoying a well-earned hiatus from the ring since he knocked out Daniel Dubois in July to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion and join the esteemed company of Muhammad Ali.
Shortly after the Dubois victory, the WBO ordered Usyk to negotiate a fight with Parker, but citing an injury sustained in the Dubois fight, Usyk received a 90-day medical exemption.
Wanting to stay active ahead of a potential undisputed fight, Parker scheduled the fight with Wardley and suffered the most drastic consequences, getting controversially stopped in the 11th round by the underdog.
Wardley could now take the biggest step up of his career in potentially fighting Usyk for all the marbles – completing his “Cinderella story”, according to Warren.
“It’s a bit of a Cinderella story as far as Fabio is concerned,” Warren explained. “When you look at his background – what he’s come from with no amateur experience and stepping up a level every time he fights. [He’s] learning on the job, and he’s done brilliantly.”
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