Oleksandr Usyk Relinquishes WBO Title; Fabio Wardley Elevated as Champion
By Eddie Sanchez
Oleksandr Usyk has relinquished the WBO heavyweight title after being ordered to face Fabio Wardley; Unbeaten Brit Wardley has been crowned as the new WBO champion; Usyk was told by the WBO that he must face the Joseph Parker vs Wardley winner in September, but the Ukrainian’s second reign as undisputed champion is now over after the WBO confirmed he had vacated the belt.
A statement from the WBO read:
“The World Boxing Organisation announced today that it has received formal communication from Team Oleksandr Usyk regarding the future of the WBO Heavyweight Championship. After thoughtful consideration, Usyk has elected to relinquish his 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.”
The unbeaten Wardley becomes Britain’s newest world heavyweight champion, following on from Daniel Dubois, Tyson Fury, and Anthony Joshua.
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