2025-11-03 12:39:06

Dillian Whyte thinks Oleksandr Usyk will give Fabio Wardley a shot at his WBO heavyweight belt.

The Barista, 30, became the mandatory challenger to The Cat’s WBO crown after defeating Joseph Parker, 33, via technical knockout last month, and The Body Snatcher, 37, expects Usyk would rather defend his championship against Wardley than vacate the title.

During an interview with Sky Sports, Whyte said: “Usyk doesn’t seem to run away from any challenge. He’s faced all the best fighters.

“If you look at the last 10 fights Oleksandr has had, it’s the best fighter at cruiserweight, the best in the world, the best at heavyweight, the best in the world … There’s no reason why he shouldn’t fight Fabio.

“You never know a big fight might come out of left field for Usyk, but as a fan and as the kind of person I think is, I don’t think he’ll vacate. I think he’ll fight Fabio Wardley.”

Whyte argued Usyk would truly be considered “the greatest fighter of the last 20 years” if he added Wardley to his long list of victims, which includes Daniel Dubois, 28, Tyson Fury, 37, and Anthony Joshua, 36.

He continued: “He’s fought champions, contenders, top contenders and he’s fighting different fighters across different generations as well and beating them, he’s beaten all the guys in his generation, the guys before him and the guys that’s coming after him.”

Wardley caused a major upset by defeating the favourite Parker in their bout at London’s O2 Arena, but Whyte insisted he had always known The Barista was destined for greatness.

He said: “I think people should have given Wardley the respect he deserves a while ago.

“I saw something in him that he himself is just seeing now and the world is seeing now.

“He just keeps beating all these guys… guys who should be destroying him and he beats them up easily.

“I think Fabio’s going to be a world champion and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up being an undisputed world champion.”

Wardley’s promoter Frank Warren recently confirmed they were in negotiations with Usyk’s team for a WBO title fight, with the Queensbury founder also revealing they were looking at a possible March 2026 date.

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