Fabio Wardley has been crowned the WBO heavyweight champion after Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the belt.
The WBO released a statement via X, reading: "The World Boxing Organization (WBO) announced today that it has received formal communication from Team Oleksandry Usyk regarding the future of the WBO Heavyweight Championship. After thoughtful consideration, Usyk has elected to relinquish the title.
"We accept and respect his decision to relinquish the WBO Heavyweight Super Championship. This is not a farewell, but - as expressed by his team - a respectful pause. The doors of the WBO will always remain open to Oleksandr Usyk and his team
WBO President Gustavo Olivieri added: "The WBO extends it's profound respect, admiration, and gratitude to Oleksandr Usyk, an undefeated, two-division WBO Undisputed World Champion, and a fighter who has earned and exemplified every right, privilege, and honour associated with the WBO Super Champion distinction.
"His career stands as one of the most extraordinary and historic of the modern boxing era."
The Ukrainian cited injury as the reason for why he couldn't agree terms for a heavyweight clash with Joseph Parker in August, and he was granted 90-day medical extension to negotiate the mandatory defense that was ordered by the WBO.
It was then declared that he must face the winner of Parker vs Wardley after the two agreed to meet at London's O2 Arena in October. Well, Usyk's decision to vacate the WBO strap comes less than a month after the Ipswich-born heavyweight claimed the WBO interim heavyweight champion status by beating the New Zealander.
That status is no more, with Queensberry Promotions, led by Frank Warren, taking to X to confirm that Wardley "is the new WBO Heavyweight Champion of the world."
"That has been the goal for a number of years now. That's been everything I've wanted," Wardley said when questioned on the possibility of a clash with Usyk after defeating Parker.
The 30-year-old won't get that opportunity, but he has added the WBO heavyweight strap to his growing list of accolades.
