Usyk vacates WBO belt and paves way for Wardley to become heavyweight champion

Ukrainian gives up undisputed heavyweight title status

Wardley will become sixth Briton to hold WBO crown

Fabio Wardley will be upgraded to WBO heavyweight champion after Oleksandr Usyk elected to relinquish the title – and his undisputed status – rather than defend it against the unbeaten Briton.

Wardley wrested the interim title from Joseph Parker via a dramatic 11th-round stoppage last month and was mandated to face the Ukrainian before the end of September.

But the WBO announced on Monday that Usyk, who unified the world titles by beating another Briton, the then IBF champion Daniel Dubois in July, has formally relayed his decision to vacate the belt “after thoughtful consideration”. Beating Dubois resulted in Usyk becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion for a second time, but he has elected for his spell to be shortlived.