{"id":529693,"date":"2025-10-26T19:00:18","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T19:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/529693\/"},"modified":"2025-10-26T19:00:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T19:00:18","slug":"oleksandr-usyk-vs-fabio-wardley-could-take-place-in-march-warren-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/529693\/","title":{"rendered":"Oleksandr Usyk vs. Fabio Wardley could take place in March, Warren says"},"content":{"rendered":"

LONDON, England \u2013 Promoter Frank Warren is targeting a March date for Oleksandr Usyk\u2019s<\/a> undisputed title defence against mandatory challenger Fabio Wardley<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And the Hall of Fame promoter has revealed that the fight will land at either London’s Wembley Stadium or in Riyadh.<\/p>\n

Wardley stopped Joseph Parker in the 11th round<\/a> of their 02 Arena thriller on Saturday night to book his crack at four-belt king Usyk, The Ring\u2019s No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter.<\/p>\n

Now the 30-year-old from Ipswich will return home for some down time with his partner and young daughter before returning to camp ahead of a career-defining clash with Usyk in the spring.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fight [between Usyk and Wardley] has been ordered, so there will be a period of negotiations now,” Warren said. “And if we can\u2019t reach an agreement, then it will go out for purse bids. I believe we will reach an agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fight won\u2019t be until next year, of course. I think it will be some time in March.\u201d<\/p>\n

Usyk\u2019s two consecutive victories over Tyson Fury<\/a> in 2024 both took place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. He reclaimed his IBF title to become a three-time undisputed champion via victory over Daniel Dubois<\/a> at Wembley Stadium in July.
Wardley, too, has fond memories of the Saudi capital having stopped both David Adeleye<\/a> and Frazer Clarke<\/a> there, while London has also been a happy hunting ground, although he is yet to box at Wembley Stadium. Now Warren says he could get that chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d love it to be in the UK, but there are only two places for this fight and that\u2019s either in Riyadh or here in London, that\u2019s it. I\u2019d do it at Wembley Stadium and it would be a sell out,” Warren said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what you\u2019re getting with Usyk, and you know what you\u2019re getting with Fabio; it\u2019s going to be exciting. Fabio has got to be one of the most exciting fighters in the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a draw, Fabio is one of the biggest draws in boxing. In his last fight at Ipswich, he drew 27,000 people to a football stadium in heavy rain. Then tonight shows he\u2019s a massive attraction, and it will only get bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs), who has famously transformed from a white-collar fighter with zero amateur experience to the No.1 contender for the undisputed heavyweight, has the highest knockout percentage of any other contender in the division.<\/p>\n

Parker was the latest to join Wardley\u2019s hit list, but he couldn\u2019t do it to all-time great Usyk, could he? <\/p>\n

\u201cCorrect me if I\u2019m wrong, he couldn\u2019t do it to Parker, according to the bookmakers, either,\u201d Warren said. \u201cHe couldn\u2019t do it to anyone. But you know what? He keeps doing it. That\u2019s a fact of life.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs everyone was saying before the fight, there are levels. There are levels, but then there is Fabio Wardley, who has got a leveler. If he catches you with it, you\u2019re out of the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course Usyk will be a massive favourite, I understand that. But if Fabio catches him, he will have to have an extraordinary chin to stand that force.\u201d<\/p>\n

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