Dogli Wilberforce
Fabio Wardley has made his position clear, targeting a fight with Oleksandr Usyk before the Ukrainian retires. The unbeaten British heavyweight says he will be “fuming” if Usyk does not face him after his next bout. Wardley is set to defend his WBO title against Daniel Dubois on May 9 in Manchester.
Usyk, 39, has spoken about a short list of fights before retirement, but his plans have changed in recent weeks. Wardley spoke about the situation and said he wants clarity. He believes he has earned his chance after recent results and wants a direct path to a title fight.
Fabio Wardley Questions Oleksandr Usyk’s Changing Plans
Wardley said Usyk’s next move is not clear. The former undisputed champion had earlier outlined a plan that included a fight with Rico Verhoeven in Egypt on May 23. He also mentioned facing the winner of Wardley’s bout with Dubois and a third fight with Tyson Fury.
Usyk has since spoken about Agit Kabayel as another option. Kabayel is the WBC mandatory challenger and has recent wins over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez, and Zhilei Zhang.
“No one knows who he is going to fight,” Fabio said in an interview with iFL TV. “One minute he is over in Egypt fighting a pharaoh or something, the next he wants to fight me, then he wants to fight Kabayel. He doesn’t know what he wants to do.”
Wardley Insists He Has Passed Every Test
Wardley said he has done enough to earn a fight with Usyk. He beat Joseph Parker in his last fight and now prepares to face Dubois. He said he wants the same outcome after this next bout.
“I will just crack on, I will keep winning and knocking people out, and if he wants to have a go, he can have a go.”
When asked if he would feel relieved to avoid Usyk, he rejected the idea.
“Absolutely not, I would be fuming. I got through the Joseph Parker fight, and I wanted Usyk. I’m going to get through the Daniel fight, and I want Usyk. How many tests does he want me to have?”
Focus Shifts to Wardley vs Daniel Dubois showdown
Wardley now turns his full focus to Dubois. Both fighters are unbeaten and hold strong positions in the heavyweight division.
Wardley said he feels like he is being tested before getting a shot at Usyk.
“I feel like I am going through Usyk tests. He is setting me things to do before I am allowed to fight him. So if I do them, and then he just goes, I will be fuming. I’ll be having words.”
Usyk is expected to retire after completing his final fights. He became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years when he defeated Fury in their 2024 rematch. Wardley’s next result will play a key role in what happens next in the division.
