Usyk vacated the WBO heavyweight title

Oleksandr Usyk has relinquished his WBO heavyweight title after informing the governing body that he will not go ahead with a mandatory defense against Britain’s Fabio Wardley, the World Boxing Organization announced on Monday.

The WBO said it had received “official communication” from the Ukrainian’s team and confirmed the 38-year-old had “opted to relinquish the title after careful consideration”. Wardley, 30, is expected to be crowned WBO heavyweight champion following Usyk’s decision, according to Sky Sports.

Usyk holds the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles, having regained the second belt in December when he stopped Britain’s Daniel Dubois to restore his undisputed title.

He became the undisputed four-belt champion for the first time in May 2024 by defeating Tyson Fury, before vacating the IBF crown the following month due to mandatory obligations attached to a rematch. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri paid tribute to Usyk in an emotional statement, calling him the “champion of champions”.

“The WBO expresses its deep respect, admiration and gratitude to Oleksandr Usyk, an undefeated, undisputed WBO two-division world champion,” Olivieri said. “His career is one of the most extraordinary and historic of the modern boxing era.”

The WBO added that Usyk exemplified “every right, privilege and honor associated with the distinction of WBO Super Champion.”

“This is not a farewell but – as expressed by his team – a respectful break. The doors of the WBO will always remain open to Oleksandr Usyk and his team.” Usyk won the WBO belt in 2021 when he defeated Anthony Joshua, later adding the WBC title by defeating Fury.

He defended the WBO crown four times during his reign. In July, the WBO ordered negotiations for a mandatory defense against interim champion Joseph Parker, giving both camps 30 days to reach an agreement before an offer for the purse.

Parker, who won the interim title last year against Zhilei Zhang and retained it in February by stopping Martin Bakole, remained the organization’s official opponent at the time.