(Boxing) Fabio Wardley the new WBO champion.

[Justbillywitt]

What a way to become champion for Fabio Wardley. Aleksandr Usyk decided to relinquished the WBO belt than to defend all his belts against Fabio Wardley. Fabio Wardley was due to face Usyk after defeating Joseph Parker, but Usyk choosed the easy way out. He thought it was better for him to relinquish the WBO belt than defend all his belts. Do you think Usyk made the right decision or he was afraid of facing the undefeated Fabio Wardley and risk losing all his bets?

I support Usyk decision to lose one belt this way than fighting and risk losing all belts.

[Agbamoni]

I don't really follow the WBO champion competition that often. But I'll say Oleksandr Usyk made the right decision. He looks a little bit aged to face Fabio Wadley.
At times, the best way to defeat someone is to cause them suffering. No need to prove a point anymore, lose one and retain the rest, instead of losing all. Smart move.

[fullfitlarry]

What do you mean? Afraid of losing all his belts?

Usyk has face the best of the heavyweight division, Fury, AJ, Dubois 2x and beat them all. And probably this is due to boxing politics, sooner or later he will have to give up some of the belts as he can't defend it against the mandatory with just short amount of time.

So I don't think that Uysk is afraid of anyone, not even a less known boxer in Fabio Wardley.

[Finestream]

At this point I don’t question Usyk’s decision anymore. He has nothing left to prove. Whatever the reason is, I think it’s the right call. He’s not getting any younger, he’s already 38, became the undisputed heavyweight champion, and made a lot of money from big fights. So I respect whatever he chooses. If he retires or keeps fighting, that’s his choice.

One thing for sure… Usyk was never afraid of anyone.

[FinneysTrueVision]

Parker was the last big name who Usyk hadn’t yet defeated at heavyweight. With that fight off the table, Usyk might opt for a big payday against Fury or Joshua. He has already beaten those fighters, but Wardley hasn’t yet proven that he is better than them. Wardley is the real deal if he could beat Parker, but that is the only notable win in his career. He is too unknown and unproven to be challenging the undisputed champion. Usyk isn’t holding the belt hostage and is giving Wardley an opportunity to grow his résumé and raise his profile.

[DubemIfedigbo001]

USYK made the best decision, in the quest for frame and prominence you've you evaluate the fact that you'll not be losing yourself in the process. USYK is just recovering from injury and the intensity of the right against Wardley might not be the best shot for him now.

He needs more recovery time before making his return and if losing the belt would give him the recovery time he needs and reduce the pressure on his side, then I'm in full support, that's wisdom instead of fueling his ego and going for the fight. He confirmed he'll be fighting next year which would give him all the time to get ready.

[Yaunfitda]

Yes, he is not getting any younger, his body needs to heal and with age, needs longer time. And it's true that he hasn't nothing to proved anymore in this division. Could be one big fight just for the money to please the rich Saudi broker. Wardley should be happy though, he could start his reign as WBO champion and proved to boxing fans that his win against Parker is no accident and that he might be the new face of WBO. If I'm not mistaken, Fabio is also the interim champion of WBA, Pulev the regular champion. He might go for unification fight if he wanted and stop chasing Usyk.

[acroman08]

I saw an article about this yesterday, and to be honest, I wasn't really surprised. The guy evaded Parker using a medical excuse until Parker had to fight another boxer and sadly lost. sure, it's a safer option and probably the smarter thing to do, but it just shows that he was afraid of the chance that he might lose against Wardley.

[bisdak40]

What a way to become champion for Fabio Wardley. Aleksandr Usyk decided to relinquished the WBO belt than to defend all his belts against Fabio Wardley. Fabio Wardley was due to face Usyk after defeating Joseph Parker, but Usyk choosed the easy way out. He thought it was better for him to relinquish the WBO belt than defend all his belts. Do you think Usyk made the right decision or he was afraid of facing the undefeated Fabio Wardley and risk losing all his bets?

I support Usyk decision to lose one belt this way than fighting and risk losing all belts.

Usyk doesn’t seem to care much about which belt he’s wearing anymore—his time in boxing is winding down. He’s said he’s only got two fights left in him, and I believe those will be against big-name opponents, possibly a trilogy with Fury, which would be far more lucrative than defending the WBO title against someone like Fabio Wardley. In my opinion, Wardley isn’t on Usyk’s level yet. If they ever square off, I’m backing Usyk as always.

[Russlenat]

Usyk doesn’t seem to care much about which belt he’s wearing anymore—his time in boxing is winding down. He’s said he’s only got two fights left in him, and I believe those will be against big-name opponents, possibly a trilogy with Fury, which would be far more lucrative than defending the WBO title against someone like Fabio Wardley. In my opinion, Wardley isn’t on Usyk’s level yet. If they ever square off, I’m backing Usyk as always.

I agree with that. He doesn’t seem interested in the title anymore since he already held it. He’s more focused on the money now, and with Fury, they can generate a huge payday again. He needs that while he still can, because sooner or later he’ll retire.

Wardley is good, but he hasn’t achieved what Usyk and Fury have achieved. So if Usyk eventually retires after the trilogy, then we’ll see if Wardley is really the real deal.

[LogitechMouse]

What do you mean? Afraid of losing all his belts?

Usyk has face the best of the heavyweight division, Fury, AJ, Dubois 2x and beat them all. And probably this is due to boxing politics, sooner or later he will have to give up some of the belts as he can't defend it against the mandatory with just short amount of time.

So I don't think that Uysk is afraid of anyone, not even a less known boxer in Fabio Wardley.

I believe there's a deeper reason as to why he did it, but I will not be surprised if in the future, he will try to get that WBO belt again against Wardley (assuming that he's still holding that title).

One reason that I'm thinking why Usyk did this is because he has nothing to gain anymore, and with his age, that might affect his performance. Maybe another one is he's afraid that he might lose against a younger Wardley, but I don't think that this is the case on this one. Whatever it is, for me this is a good decision coming from Usyk. Also, we want this as well just so that boxers will have a belt to fight with.

With this, I will not be surprised anymore if he will retire completely while holding those 3 title belts. If this happens, the division will be more exciting to watch again as top boxers will fight for them.

[fullfitlarry]

What do you mean? Afraid of losing all his belts?

Usyk has face the best of the heavyweight division, Fury, AJ, Dubois 2x and beat them all. And probably this is due to boxing politics, sooner or later he will have to give up some of the belts as he can't defend it against the mandatory with just short amount of time.

So I don't think that Uysk is afraid of anyone, not even a less known boxer in Fabio Wardley.

I believe there's a deeper reason as to why he did it, but I will not be surprised if in the future, he will try to get that WBO belt again against Wardley (assuming that he's still holding that title).

One reason that I'm thinking why Usyk did this is because he has nothing to gain anymore, and with his age, that might affect his performance. Maybe another one is he's afraid that he might lose against a younger Wardley, but I don't think that this is the case on this one. Whatever it is, for me this is a good decision coming from Usyk. Also, we want this as well just so that boxers will have a belt to fight with.

With this, I will not be surprised anymore if he will retire completely while holding those 3 title belts. If this happens, the division will be more exciting to watch again as top boxers will fight for them.

Yes, I also think that he didn't take that risk because he has nothing to gain fighting Wardley. But for sure he is not afraid of that guy. Dubois is very young too, but Usyk didn't back up from that challenge, he took it and then knockout Dubois which I didn't think that he can do it.

Maybe he could be in the sabbatical or just resting at the end of the year. He still has the belts and maybe he will also be stripped until he just hold one belt. Then maybe that will be the time that he will go out and defend it.