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Oleksandr Usyk Relinquishes WBO Heavyweight Title Ahead of Mandatory Defence

Posted : 21 November 2025

Oleksandr Usyk has formally vacated his WBO heavyweight title, informing the World Boxing Organisation that he would not proceed with a mandatory defence against Britain’s Fabio Wardley. The 38-year-old Ukrainian made the decision after careful consideration, according to the WBO, which confirmed receiving official communication from his team on Monday.

Following Usyk’s decision, Wardley, 30, is expected to be elevated to WBO heavyweight champion, as reported by Sky Sports. Usyk, who currently holds the WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles, regained the IBF belt in December by stopping Britain’s Daniel Dubois, restoring his status as an undisputed champion. He first became a four-belt undisputed champion in May 2024 with a victory over Tyson Fury, before vacating the IBF title the following month due to mandatory rematch obligations.

WBO President Gustavo Olivieri praised Usyk, calling him “a champion of champions” and highlighting his remarkable career. “The WBO extends its profound respect, admiration, and gratitude to Oleksandr Usyk, an undefeated, two-division WBO undisputed world champion,” Olivieri said. “His career stands as one of the most extraordinary and historic of the modern boxing era.”

The WBO also acknowledged that Usyk had exemplified the rights and honours of the WBO Super Champion distinction, stating that the organisation respects his decision to relinquish the heavyweight title. “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 statement read.

Usyk originally won the WBO belt in 2021 by defeating Anthony Joshua and later added the WBC title by overcoming Tyson Fury. During his reign, he defended the WBO crown four times. In July, the WBO had ordered negotiations for a mandatory defence against interim champion Joseph Parker, who had claimed the interim title by defeating Zhilei Zhang and successfully retained it against Martin Bakole in February.

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