Fabio Wardley is gearing up for his first defense of the WBO world title, and the anticipation is building! After being crowned champion in November following Oleksandr Usyk's decision to relinquish the belt, Wardley is eager to step back into the ring. But who will be his first challenger? Let's dive in.
Wardley's sights are set on a spring showdown, ideally in the UK. He's aiming for an April/May timeframe, allowing ample time for training. Remember his thrilling 11th-round knockout of Joseph Parker at London's O2 Arena? He's hoping for a similar atmosphere for his first title defense.
"Preferably for me, at least my first defence, I'd love to be in the UK," Wardley stated. However, he acknowledges that the best opportunity might take him elsewhere.
So, who are the potential contenders? Fellow Briton Moses Itauma is the number one ranked challenger, but his upcoming fight has been rescheduled. This opens the door for others. Filip Hrgovic, Agit Kabayel, and veteran Derek Chisora are all in the mix.
Wardley's preference leans towards a fight with Chisora. He also mentioned Hrgovic and Zhilei Zhang as possible opponents, emphasizing the need to consider the WBO rankings.
"It's fantastic, it's where I wanted to be when I started my career in professional boxing," Wardley said, reflecting on his journey to the top. It took him 10 years to reach this point.
But here's where it gets controversial... Wardley still dreams of facing Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles. However, he understands that it's up to Usyk to decide when and if that fight happens. "He holds the keys in the division, he's earned that right to dictate things."
And this is the part most people miss... Another intriguing possibility is a match against Tyson Fury. Fury recently announced the end of his latest 'retirement'. Wardley believes Fury might be looking for a warm-up fight before targeting a world title around the summer.
Wardley speculates that Usyk might be hesitant to face Fury again soon, opening a window of opportunity for Wardley to challenge Fury for a title. "As a plan he might try to snatch mine off me and then try and get hold of the Usyk fight again," he added.
What do you think? Who would you like to see Wardley fight next? Do you agree with his assessment of the situation with Usyk and Fury? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And don't forget to listen to the full interview with Fabio Wardley on BBC Radio Suffolk.
