In a significant shift for the world of boxing, undefeated champion Oleksandr Usyk has officially vacated his WBO heavyweight title.
The World Boxing Organization confirmed the move, which immediately elevates Britain's Fabio Wardley to the status of full world champion.
The Path to the Title
This development comes after a series of pivotal fights. Usyk solidified his dominance in June by knocking out Daniel Dubois, becoming a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion by holding all four major belts.
Subsequently, the WBO ordered Usyk to face their interim champion at the time, Joseph Parker. Citing an injury, Usyk was granted additional recovery time.
This delay led Parker to seek another fight to stay active, setting the stage for a clash with Fabio Wardley. On October 25 in London, Wardley delivered a major upset, stopping Parker in the eleventh round to claim the WBO interim title.
Official Confirmation and Future Implications
The WBO released a formal statement acknowledging the situation. "The World Boxing Organization announced today that it has received formal communication from Team Oleksandr Usyk regarding the future of the WBO Heavyweight Championship. After thoughtful consideration, Usyk has elected to relinquish the title," the organization stated.
The statement also paid tribute to Usyk, calling his career "one of the most extraordinary and historic of the modern boxing era."
Following his win over Parker, Wardley had publicly called for a fight with Usyk. However, the Ukrainian champion's decision to vacate the belt strongly suggests that a bout between the two is not on the immediate horizon.
Usyk, who was also the undisputed champion at cruiserweight before moving up, has indicated he plans to fight again in 2026, though his exact next opponent remains unclear.
