Wardley is targeting a spring return, likely in April or May, and would prefer his first defense to take place in the UK. He wants the first defense at home, where the crowd and surroundings are familiar. He earned that position by stopping Joseph Parker late at the O2 Arena last November, the win that moved him into contention for the belt.
Nothing has been finalized. Wardley was open about it. Dates, venues and opponents remain flexible, and the occasion will dictate the final decision. What has changed is the playing space. There are no relief fights left.
Moses Itauma is currently at the top of the WBO rankings, but his next fight has been pushed back to March. This delay brings other names into focus. The next names in line are not the same kind of fight. Filip Hrgovic and Agit Kabayel are the type that make you work for every clean minute. Zhilei Zhang changes it with size and strength, even in a slower fight. Veteran Derek Chisora ​​​​is the profile option, but he still shows up to trade.
Chisora ​​is currently the most realistic option. The reason is timing, not safety. He is approaching what would be the 50th fight of his career, which adds weight to the discussion. He still brings danger, even with the mileage. If Wardley wants the defense to silence doubt, Kabayel is the cleaner way to do it than Chisora.
Beyond a first defense, the division closes in quickly. Usyk still holds the WBA, WBC and IBF titles and controls how the weight class moves. Wardley accepts that a fight with Usyk only exists if Usyk chooses it. It can come quickly. It could just as easily not come at all.
Tyson Fury stays close to the other name. Fury ended his latest retirement two weeks ago and has already been talking about a summer return. Wardley admitted his team tried to push him into a fight, but Fury appeared reluctant to jump straight into danger after a year away.
Wardley isn’t pretending the belt was taken the hard way. He knows how he became champion. The first defense is where that label matters less.
