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England's heavyweight contender will be upgraded to world boxing champion after the Ukrainian champion decided to relinquish his world title

This follows after the champion notified the WBO he would not proceed with a required championship defense against his mandatory opponent

WBO Statement

The championship body announced that Usyk had "elected to relinquish his championship following careful thought"

Usyk still holds the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles, having overcome Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July to become a double undisputed champion

He first became the four-belt undisputed champion in last year by defeating the British champion, before vacating another belt a month afterwards and choosing to avoid the mandatory challenger

"Organization head Gustavo Olivieri praised the Ukrainian fighter in a statement"

"The WBO extends its sincere admiration and thanks to the Ukrainian champion, an unbeaten multi-division champion"

"His career stands as one of the most remarkable and significant of the recent fighting history"

The boxing body stated that its organization will always welcome Usyk and his team"

Title Reign

The champion captured the championship in 2021 by defeating Anthony Joshua and went on to successfully defend multiple times

In mid-year, the championship body required discussions for a obligatory championship fight against interim champion Joseph Parker, only for a back injury sustained by Usyk to cause the delay of the bout

British Fighter's Journey

But Wardley, 30, won the provisional belt from Parker with a major surprise in the later stages at the famous London arena last month and was ordered to fight the champion before the month's conclusion

The championship body still needs to verify the title change but his manager Warren believes it is a done deal

"The UK has a fresh boxing champion and a new star of the sport"

"One of the most incredible stories during my long career as a sports manager and I could not be more pleased for Wardley"

"Major contests coming up for next year as he protects his championship and creates a true legacy in the fighting community"

Wardley entered the sport relatively late, coming through the unlicensed white-collar scene and has had a limited professional record

Future Prospects

• The likely championship upgrade marks a significant moment in the division
• The Ukrainian's move to vacate the belt opens new opportunities for more fighters
• The boxing world now anticipates verification from the championship body
• The champion's path from unconventional beginning to title holder continues to motivate others