Fabio Wardley says there have been ‘conversations’ about facing Derek Chisora
Jan 6, 2026 • 11:46 AM ET
Leigh Dawney / Queensberry PromotionsWBO heavyweight beltholder Fabio Wardley has outlined his hopes for 2025.
Wardley was awarded the title at the end of 2025 having won what served as an eliminator against Joseph Parker and Oleksandr Usyk then gave up the belt.
“Throughout my career, I’ve always been the one chasing, hunting, the people with world titles and those big honors,” Wardley told Sky Sports. “Now I’ve got one, I think it’s a bit easier, I can sit back. People are hunting after me so I can almost take my pick a bit. Hopefully some time soon; maybe April, May.”
Wardley indicated that there have been talks with Derek Chisora.
“He’s on the hunt, he wants a big finish to his career, he’s on 49 fights at the moment, he wants to finish on that big 50 so a world title shot is probably the best way to do that,” said Wardley. ”So we’re having some broad conversations, some broad chats. I know people would like that match.”
Wardley was also asked about other leading names in the division, and while he reiterated his favored fight would be to challenge Usyk, he said he’d be open to facing Daniel Dubois, should the former IBF champion notch a victory as he bids to rebound from a 2025 return loss to Usyk.
Tyson Fury – who has indicated he’d be open to facing Wardley during his return this year – is another that clearly interests Wardley, who said he’d “more than welcome it.”
“I like to target the big names and the big boys in the division and he’s one of those guys, so give me a call, any time,” said the 31-year-old.
Wardley is 20-0-1 (19 KOs) and had minimal amateur experience, having cut his teeth in a handful of fights on the white-collar circuit.
Tris Dixon covered his first amateur boxing fight in 1996. The former editor of Boxing News, he has written for a number of international publications and newspapers, including GQ and Men’s Health, and is a board member for the Ringside Charitable Trust and the Ring of Brotherhood. He has been a broadcaster for TNT Sports and hosts the popular “Boxing Life Stories” podcast. Dixon is a British Boxing Hall of Famer, an International Boxing Hall of Fame elector, a BWAA award winner, and is the author of five boxing books, including “Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing” (shortlisted for the William Hill Sportsbook of the Year), “Warrior: A Champion’s Search for His Identity” (shortlisted for the Sunday Times International Sportsbook of the Year) and “The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing’s Wastelands.” You can reach him @trisdixon on X and Instagram.
