Has Oleksandr Usyk dodged Fabio Wardley to maintain his unbeaten 24-0 record? Many fans believe that to be the case after Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) destroyed Joseph Parker last October. Usyk says it was a “business” decisionbut people don’t buy that excuse.
Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) vacated his WBO heavyweight title last month to avoid mandatory challenger Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs), which took away his undisputed status.
Oliver believes Wardley was considered a threat after knocking out WBO interim champion Joseph Parker in the 11th round on October 25, 2025.
Business excuse
Spencer says Oleksandr may have felt Parker was going to win before his clash with Fabio. But when Wardley surprisingly beat him, he realized the risk and relinquished the WBO belt soon after.
Usyk said in an interview this week that his rationale for not fighting Wardley was “business” related. He felt it was more “interesting” to face the better-known 33-year-old Parker than the undefeated younger Wardley.
To fans, it looked like a classic duckjob by Usyk, who saw that the high-volume, heavy-hitting Wardley was a very different kind of fighter than the guys he’d beaten since moving up to heavyweight, so he vacated to avoid him. The steel-chinned Wardley is a nightmare matchup for Usyk compared to the four heavyweights he beat to rise to fame in the division:
- Tyson Fury – slow and old
- Anthony Joshua – robotic and overmuscled
- Daniel Dubois – chin problem and lack of confidence
- Derek Chisora ​​- juror
“It’s sport and business. If you win Parker, it’s interesting to me. Win Wardley, to me it’s not interesting,” said Oleksandr Usyk. Boxing King Media on why he chose to vacate his WBO heavyweight title on November 17, 2025 rather than face his then-obligatory Fabio Wardley. “Okay, here’s your belt. Maybe we can fight later.”
Why Wardley Became “Too Dangerous”.
“Joseph Parker had a more recognizable name, and it was a fight he felt he could win. Oleksandr Usyk probably felt Parker could beat Fabio Wardley. Parker was a heavy favorite going into that fight,” said commentator Spencer Oliver.
“If you look at Farbio Wardley from Oleksandr Usyk’s side, he looks at it and says, ‘This guy is potentially a dangerous guy’.”
Last updated on 12/05/2025
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