Usyk, the division’s number one, recently elected to surrender the WBO strap in favour of exploring other options, which in turn left Wardley, the number one challenger, receiving it in the post, essentially, rather than in the ring. That, of course, is not the way Wardley will have wanted to be crowned world champion, but alas, there was little he could do about it. Besides, with the belt now his, Wardley, 20-0-1 (19 KOs), has sudden bargaining power in the heavyweight division and will, in his next fight, enter the ring as champion, a distinction few boxers will get to experience in their career.
