The Future for the Heavyweight Division After Wardley's Victory?

The British boxer Fabio Wardley has propelled himself into the world title picture after a surprising 11th-round stoppage win against Joseph Parker at London's O2 Arena.

The remarkable win extended Wardley's unbeaten streak to 21 fights—20 victories and one draw—with an notable 19 knockout wins.

Wardley also claimed Parker's WBO 'interim' title and is now positioned for a life-changing opportunity against undefeated unified titleholder Oleksandr Usyk.

But will Wardley get his shot at the reigning two-division champion?

Which bouts are scheduled? And what matchups could materialize?

Will Usyk Fight Wardley?

The champion impressed again when defeating Daniel Dubois by stoppage to become a repeat undisputed heavyweight titleholder in July.

Just five days after that victory, the WBO ordered the 38-year-old to begin negotiations for a title defense against his mandatory opponent Parker.

But the fighter suffered a back issue and was given additional time to negotiate with Parker's camp.

The champion stated recently he wanted to fight for another two years but had no intention of fighting next year.

The WBO has not made a fresh call for Usyk to negotiate with his mandatory challenger, but could do so soon following Wardley's win.

Wardley made no secret of his desire to fight the titleholder next after his latest win.

"I have one thing to say - Usyk, Usyk," he said in his post-fight interview.

The ex-cruiserweight titleholder may even choose to avoid Wardley.

If he does, the organization might strip him of the title and upgrade Wardley to champion.

If that scenario plays out then former IBF champion Dubois could become a possible contender for Wardley.

Which Bouts Are Confirmed?

With Usyk yet to make his next move, the heavyweight division has been on pause.

There are no world-level fights on the agenda in the final two months of 2025.

There is a UK heavyweight championship fight on 29 November when Frazer Clarke faces Jeamie 'TKV' Tshikeva at Derby's Vaillant Arena.

The bout was originally scheduled for October 25th before Tshikeva suffered an injury.

The rearranged card will be shown live on television and streaming platforms, marking the inaugural show in a fresh collaboration between BBC Sport and Boxxer.

When Is Anthony Joshua's Next Bout?

The boxing world is waiting for news on a bout schedule for former champion British star Anthony Joshua.

Joshua has not fought since his devastating fifth-round knockout defeat at the hands of compatriot Daniel Dubois in autumn 2024.

The veteran underwent elbow surgery in spring and there have been rumors of a potential December return.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said it's "50-50 he will return for a warm-up fight this year", but also suggested Joshua might appear on an event in California on 13 December or possibly to an event in Saudi Arabia on 27 December.

"It might not even be something we announce weeks and weeks before because that defeats the object," Hearn told Ring Magazine.

"He is in the gym and he is staying ready so we could say 'you're out in two weeks in an eight-rounder'."

Joshua has expressed desire to compete in Africa, but it is unlikely he will feature on Matchroom's expected card in Ghana on 20 December.

His dream of fighting on the continent may have to wait until February.

When Could Itauma Fight Next?

Young prospect Moses Itauma is Britain's next great heavyweight hope—but the young fighter hasn't confirmed his next bout.

Itauma boosted his standing with a quick knockout of Dillian Whyte in August, extending his unbeaten record to 13 victories with 11 stoppage wins.

In the aftermath of that stunning win, Itauma was linked with bouts against several top contenders.

Team Itauma were considering a fight in December, with veteran Chisora indicating they might appear together on 13 December in Manchester.

But that schedule is uncertain for the Chatham heavyweight, who is discovering the complexities of boxing negotiations.

WBA 'regular' champion Kubrat Pulev was ordered to defend his belt against Itauma on 14 October, but the veteran has revealed intentions to fight opponent Murat Gassiev on December 12th.

The WBA order means both sides have 30 days to negotiate a deal.

Queensberry's Frank Warren, who promotes Itauma, told BBC Sport that "Pulev has to fight Moses next with London and Manchester possible host cities".

Itauma has also been suggested as a potential opponent for undisputed champion Usyk, but the champion dismissed those speculations earlier this month.

As for Chisora, he appeared on stage at the O2 Arena alongside other heavyweight contenders before Wardley's win over Parker.

Speaking about potential fights and asked if we could see Chisora and Whyte meet for a third time, Chisora said "yes, if the contract is right", before adding that it will "100% happen in December".

Has Tyson Fury Actually Retired?

Forecasting Tyson Fury's future has never been easy.

The former world champion announced his retirement in January after suffering a second defeat to Usyk a month earlier.

Over the past nine months, Fury has hinted at returns then changed his mind.

Fury has spoken of a desire to get in the ring with Joshua before stating he has achieved everything he wanted to and is happy to stay on the other side of the ropes.

During a recent media appearance, Fury said there was "no actual reason for me to go back in the boxing ring".

But the veteran attended Wardley's victory against friend and training partner Parker—and that could have sparked his interest.

Tom Obrien
Tom Obrien

A seasoned gaming analyst and content strategist specializing in UK betting markets and casino reviews.

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