‘Throw a Curveball’, Fabio Wardley Wants Oleksandr Usyk

Fabio Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) is currently gearing up for a title defence against Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) on May 9. However, it looks like he has set his sights on an even grander showdown, a belt unification against Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs).

Talking to Sky Sports, Wardley opened up about his thoughts on fighting Usyk in the very near future.

“That is exactly the thought process. In terms of putting people against Oleksandr Usyk, you’ve almost tried everything in terms of the unorthodox style of someone like Tyson Fury and then the well-schooled style of someone like  Joshua or Dubois, for instance, those strong guys,” he said. “Maybe throw a curveball at him, the white collar kid at him, and see what he comes up with.”

Wardley calling out Usyk is mostly about visibility and positioning rather than a realistic, immediate fight. However, one could say it’s not just noise; there’s some belt logic behind this callout, even if it’s still a long shot. Usyk holds the major heavyweight belts, WBA, WBO, IBF, and has been in and out of undisputed status depending on mandatories. At the same time, the belts create bottlenecks; notably, each organization enforces mandatories, and champions often have obligations or negotiations, which means someone like Wardley isn’t realistically next yet. But calling out the champion keeps him visible to those sanctioning bodies and fans

“I want to be successful, and I want to tick off the big names. I’ve got one belt, and I’m not planning on stopping there. This fight is a statement of that in and of itself,” he said.

“Send A Carrier Pigeon”

And how eager is he to fight Usyk? According to his conversation with Fight Hub TV, Usyk wouldn’t have to spend a lot of time on callouts and negotiations.

“It’s not something I’m going to hold my breath on. We’ll plan for all eventualities. If he wants to fight, he don’t need to call, he can send a carrier pigeon if you want. I’m sure I’ll get it and I’ll get the message and we can get it on, but, yeah, who knows what the future holds of Oleksandr Usyk,” he said.

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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