After telling the organisation that he would not be going for a mandatory fight against Britain’s Fabio Wardley, Oleksandr Usyk has decided to vacate his WBO heavyweight title. On Monday, the World Boxing Organisation confirmed that it had received “formal communication” from the Ukrainian’s camp, which indicated that the 38-year-old had “after thoughtful consideration” decided to step aside from the obligation.
As a result of Usyk’s exit, the WBO interim belt holder Fabio Wardley is likely to be handed the full world title. The 30-year-old Briton is reportedly just one step away from becoming a world champion for the first time.
Though he gave up the WBO belt, Usyk is still the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion as he reclaimed the IBF belt by defeating Daniel Dubois last December. This is the second time that he has had to relinquish a belt due to a mandatory fight as his latest move comes after his decision to vacate the IBF title in 2024, following his extraordinary win over Tyson Fury that initially made him the four-belt undisputed champion.
Gustavo Olivieri, WBO president, wished Usyk all the best, calling him “a champion of champions” and citing his legacy as one of the greatest of the sport. The organisation stated that the move “a respectful pause” is, and they will always be available if Usyk decides to come back.
