OLEKSANDR USYK has vacated his WBO heavyweight title which sees Fabio Wardley crowned world champion.
In doing so he has lost his status as the unified heavyweight champion of the world.
It is also the second time he has vacated a belt having let go of the IBF title last year.
The WBO confirmed they had received confirmation from Usyk that he wished to relinquish his title.
They said they are honouring the Ukranian’s career and calling this step a respectful pause – not a farewell.
British boxer Wardley became the mandatory WBO challenger for Usyk after he defeated Joseph Parker last month.
So he will now take over the vacant belt left by Usyk.
Wardley reacted to the decision, tweeting: “#AndTheNew 🏆”
The Ipswich fighter had called for a fight with the champ after his TKO win over Parker.
He said: “That has been the goal for a number of years now.
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“That’s been the objective. That’s been everything I’ve wanted.”
Wardley, 30, boasts a 20-1-0 record and also holds British, Commonwealth, WBA Continental, and WBO European heavyweight titles.
Usyk had previously taken the WBO belt off Anthony Joshua, and won his IBF title back when he KO’d Daniel Dubois in July.
