Oleksandr Usyk Delivers Honest Verdict On Fabio Wardley As A Fighter

Oleksandr Usyk has decided not to face Fabio Wardley but has now given his views on the British fighter.

Usyk is history’s first-ever two-time undisputed heavyweight world champion in the four-belt era. On his way to picking up all four major belts, he has beaten Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, all twice, with the most recent victory coming by KO in August over ‘DDD’.

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Since then, he has been out of the ring and then decided to vacate the WBO belt rather than face his mandatory challenger Wardley, who got into that position with a KO win over Joseph Parker.

He was down on the cards by many people’s reckoning but pulled out a big KO in the late rounds, which saw him become the interim champion before being promoted to full champion when Usyk relinquished his strap.

Speaking to Boxing King Media, Usyk explained why he was not surprised when Wardley beat Parker.

“No, no, for me not surprised because I work with Wardley. I think he’s a good fighter and great guy. I respect this guy, because this guy does a lot of work with his body. Lots of training, I think he’s a great man.”

In 2026, Wardley will be looking to make his first defence of the belt, likely in the spring, with potential opponents named so far including the likes of Dubois, Joshua, Filip Hrgovic or Zhilei Zhang.

Usyk, meanwhile, has said he wants to fight on, with American former champion and fearsome puncher Deontay Wilder one possible opponent.

Fabio Wardley is confident he can do what other British heavyweights have failed to do by overcoming Oleksandr Usyk.

Wardley caused a stir in the boxing world on October 25, when he claimed the WBO interim heavyweight title from Joseph Parker.

The pair went toe-to-toe across 11 brutal rounds before Wardley’s barrage of punches forced Parker against the ropes, and the referee waved off the action.

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After scoring a stoppage win over the New Zealander, Wardley is now expected to be next in line to fight Usyk.

Under the WBO’s orders, the undisputed heavyweight king will have to defend his belt or be stripped of his recognition.

When asked by talkSPORT’s Andy Goldstein why he could do what the likes of Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois, and Anthony Joshua couldn’t, Wardley had his answer ready.

While his compatriots all had two unsuccessful attempts at beating Usyk, the Ipswich puncher believes two attributes sway the bout in his favour.

He explained: “I think I just offer something a bit different. I think I offer something unconventional.

“It’s hard to say with someone like Oleksandr Usyk, that I can offer something he hasn’t seen.

“There is a rhythm to boxing, a way of doing things that is to-and-fro, almost like a dance of steps and how things should be.

“Then a character like me, someone who comes in such an unorthodox way from an unorthodox background, kind of throws a spanner in the works and throws it off that rhythm.

“I think that’s what I have a good chance of doing.

“Along with a strong heavy right hand as well, and good stamina. One way or another, Usyk will know he’s been in the fight.”

Can Fabio Wardley beat Oleksandr Usyk?

Wardley would certainly say he likes his chances, as, like Usyk, he has yet to face an opponent that can hand him a defeat.

Known for his huge right hand, with 19 of his 20 wins coming by way of knockout, he is certainly a force to be reckoned with.

After winning the brutal war against Parker, Wardley also found himself elevated toNo.2 on The Ring Magazine heavyweight rankings.

The 30-year-old announced himself on the world stage to secure the biggest challenge of his career thus far, which is expected to fall in the first quarter of 2026.

Should Wardley’s prediction for his match-up with Usyk ring true, he would be cementing his place in boxing’s history books as the first man to beat ‘The Cat’.