It remains a risky fight that Anthony Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, are unlikely to undertake.
Wardley’s recent form
Fabio Wardley has shown consistent power and durability. He stopped Joseph Parker in the 11th round on October 25 and previously demolished David Adeleye in seven rounds in October 2023. Those performances put Wardley outside the type of opponent Joshua has typically faced since his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Hearn has said in previous interviews that Joshua would “prefer” the Wardley fight, although the broader direction has continued to point elsewhere. Saudi-backed planning, including the influence of Turki Alalshikh, focused on a potential fight with Tyson Fury, not on a high-risk bout against an undefeated contender.
Joshua’s current position
Wardley’s team indicated that a WBO title opportunity could be made available to Joshua without a qualifying bout. Even so, there was no public movement to finalize that struggle. Joshua’s only win since the Dubois loss came against Jake Paul, but he is still positioned for big opportunities.
Currently, there is no indication that Joshua or his representatives intend to act on Wardley’s availability.
Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Related Boxing News:
Last updated on 24/12/2025
