In a recent turn of events, Fabio Wardley has expressed his doubts about a potential showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, despite the Ukrainian’s public callout. The boxing world was abuzz with anticipation when Usyk was expected to face Wardley after his surprising victory over Joseph Parker in October. However, Usyk decided to vacate his WBO heavyweight title, propelling Wardley to the status of full champion.
The 39-year-old Usyk has announced that he has three fights left in his illustrious career. His first bout will be a defense of his WBC crown against former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven in Egypt on May 23. Meanwhile, Wardley is set to make his first defense of his WBO title against Daniel Dubois on May 9. Usyk has publicly stated his interest in facing the winner of the Wardley-Dubois match, followed by a third fight with Tyson Fury. Despite these declarations, Wardley remains skeptical about the likelihood of facing Usyk.
“It’s an honor to be considered,” the 31-year-old Wardley remarked. “Being part of the conversation is always a good thing. However, I remain cautious. Before the Parker fight, there were discussions, and even before the Dubois fight was announced, conversations were taking place. But in this sport, you never know how things will unfold or what decisions will be made.”
Wardley’s cautious optimism is understandable. Usyk has already defeated Dubois twice, most recently in July when he stopped the Brit in five rounds to reclaim the undisputed heavyweight championship at Wembley Stadium. The WBC President, Mauricio Sulaiman, has indicated that Usyk will be ordered to defend his WBC title against interim champion Agit Kabayel after his bout with Verhoeven, who will be competing for only the second time as a professional boxer.
As the boxing community eagerly awaits the outcomes of these high-stakes matches, Wardley remains focused on his upcoming defense against Dubois. “It’s great to be on the list and included in these discussions,” Wardley said. “I welcome the challenge with open arms, but I’m not taking anything for granted.”
The uncertainty surrounding Usyk’s future bouts adds an element of suspense to the heavyweight division. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as the narratives unfold in the coming months.
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