Britain’s Fabio Wardley is expected to be elevated to WBO heavyweight champion after Oleksandr Usyk decided to relinquish his title.
It comes after Ukrainian fighter Usyk informed the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) he would not proceed with a mandatory title defence against Wardley.
The WBO said Usyk had “elected to relinquish his title after thoughtful consideration”.
Usyk still holds the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles, having beaten Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
He first became the four-belt undisputed champion in May 2024 by beating Tyson Fury, before giving up the IBF title five weeks later and deciding not to fight the mandatory challenger.
WBO president Gustavo Olivieri called Usyk “a champion of champions” in a statement.
“The WBO extends its profound respect, admiration and gratitude to Oleksandr Usyk, an undefeated, two-division WBO undisputed world champion,” Olivieri said.
“His career stands as one of the most extraordinary and historic of the modern boxing era.”
The WBO added that its doors “will always remain open to Usyk and his team”.