Talks are underway to match unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk with Fabio Wardley.
The Englishman is coming off a thrilling 11th-round stoppage of the New Zealander Joseph Parker to jump to the head of the heavyweight queue, and he has moved into a position to force Usyk’s hand.
The Ukrainian great last defended his title in July with an impressive second early win over Daniel Dubois.
“At the moment, the deal is Usyk has to defend his WBO title against Fabio, we’re in negotiations,” Warren told Queensberry Promotions. “If we can’t agree terms, it’ll go to purse bids. Whoever wins the purse bids will determine where that fight takes place and the date and contracts will have to be signed. And then Mr Usyk will either sign it or he won’t, if he signs it, we’ve got a fight and if he doesn’t Fabio will become the champion and he’ll fight somebody else.”
Wardley is 20-0-1 (19 KOs), and the 30-year-old is trained by Ben Davison.
“It’s been a Cinderella story as far as Fabio’s concerned, when you look at his background, and what he’s come from with no amateur experience and stepping up a level every time he fights, learning on the job, and he’s done brilliantly,” said Warren. “For Joe Parker, who was ranked the number-two heavyweight in the world, he’ll come again.
"We’ve already corresponded with him, he’ll want to come back and fight and we’ll make a fight for him, maybe there’ll even be a rematch down the road, who knows? There are great fights to be made.”
Usyk is 24-0 (15 KOs) and has been undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight, where he has twice beaten Dubois, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
