Fabio Wardley stopped ex-world champion Joseph Parker last month (Image: PA)

How we got here

Just a quick reminder as to how Wardley became Suffolk’s first-ever boxing world champion. Having beaten Justis Huni in dramatic fashion at Portman Road in June to earn the WBA interim world title belt, he then sensationally stopped ex-world champion Joseph Parker at the O2 Arena last month to lift the WBO interim strap as well.

That put him next in line to face the legendary Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight titles – all four recognised world title belts (WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF).

But the unbeaten icon (24-0, 15KO) decided against facing the Suffolk slugger (20-0-1, 19KO), and gave up the WBO belt earlier this month, meaning that Wardley was elevated to full champion status.

It’s obviously not the way he wanted to conquer the world, but now Wardley has a chance to prove that he deserves it by defending that title. And there are plenty of mouth-watering match-ups out there for him…

Fabio Wardley will have a voluntary defence of his WBO world title first (Image: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry.)

The rules

Before we get to the fights, just a reminder of the rules. World champions have both voluntary and mandatory defences.

Wardley’s first defence will be a voluntary – essentially he and his team, led by legendary promoter Frank Warren, can choose an opponent, as long as they are in the top 15 of the WBO rankings.

Assuming he wins that, Wardley will then have to face a mandatory defence – defending the belt against a challenger determined by the WBO. In theory, that would be their number one ranked heavyweight.

So, for the first defence, do Team Wardley play it safe and opt for a fight against an opponent they’re confident of beating – or do they roll the dice from the off and go straight for a mega fight?

That option is very much there, and Wardley’s own mantra is ‘Big fights only’ – so I suspect it’s going to be the latter.

Fabio won’t be fighting Oleksandr Usyk – at least not just yet (Image: PA Sport)

Who it won’t be

One more thing to tick off. We know it won’t be Usyk, given he gave up the belt. That’s a real shame, and I know Wardley still hopes to fight him in the future.

I’d imagine Usyk simply decided the potential reward – ie how much he could make from the fight – wasn’t worth the risk of tackling a huge puncher with a massive heart and unorthodox style.

As a three-time undisputed champion in two different weight divisions, he’s earned the right to do what he wants. And perhaps, if Fab can add a couple more devastating wins to his record, that fight could still happen one day.

It’s also highly unlikely to be the man Wardley beat last, Joseph Parker. The likeable Kiwi – one of the nicest men in the sport – allegedly failed a cocaine test on the day of the fight.

While Wardley said ahead of that news breaking he would entertain a rematch as a first defence – given the first fight was an all-time classic – Parker will have to go through the process of clearing his name first, which will likely take a while.

I don’t think Fab will fight Moses Itauma for a while yet (Image: PA)

I also can’t see it being brilliant young British prospect Moses Itauma (13-0, 11KO), who is ranked number one with the WBO currently.

Firstly, because he has a fight lined up in January, against American Jermaine Franklin, and secondly, because they are gym-mates, both under the care of trainer Ben Davison.

I think Itauma will chase the WBA belt instead, with the aging – and very beatable – Kubrat Pulev currently holding their ‘regular’ title.

If both he and Wardley keep winning, they will have to meet one day – but that won’t be for a while yet. Let that cook as a future all-British super-fight.

Daniel Dubois could very well be Fab’s next foe

Who it could be

Right, finally we get to the men it could be. I think five names stand out – so let’s look at each in turn….

Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21KO)

If you asked me right now who is the most likely opponent for Wardley’s first defence, I’d say ‘Dynamite’ Dubois – and this would be a huge all-British world title fight straight off the bat.

Dubois pulled out of his IBF title eliminator with Frank Sanchez just a few days ago, which suggests there is something else in the pipeline – and both men are promoted by Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, which means it’s an easy fight to make.

It would also be a big money fight – two young, heavy-handed British heavyweights, in a scrap where a KO is almost guaranteed. This one could easily do a Wembley or Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

I’d fancy Fab to win, too. He’d have to be very wary of that vaunted Dubois power – especially his huge left hook, which Wardley can be caught with – but DDD has a tendency to crumble in the really big fights, while Fab is mentally unbreakable.

I like Wardley to win this inside six rounds, in a spectacular firefight.

Anthony Joshua would be the biggest money fight for Fabio Wardley (Image: PA)

Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25KO)

Of all the fighters on this list, AJ is still THE money.

And he could be even more of a cash cow after he sparks out deluded and soon to be unconscious YouTuber Jake Paul live on Netflix on December 19th.

Assuming that’s the case, and there’s a viral Joshua KO doing the rounds again, I reckon he’d see Wardley as a decent opportunity to win a world title for a third time before finally facing Tyson Fury later next year.

Again, it’s a fight which fills Wembley or Spurs and Fabio trousers a huge amount of money, not to mention makes his star shine even brighter should he win.

Joshua, currently ranked 10th with the WBO, is an Eddie Hearn fighter of course, so it’s harder to make than the Dubois fight – but Eddie and uncle Frank are best pals these days, so it should be achievable.

Filip Hrgovic, right, would be a solid choice as a first title defence (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Filip Hrgovic ( 19-1, 14KO)

As it stands, Croatian star Hrgovic is the highest ranked WBO heavyweight not named Itauma.

He’s coming off a couple of good wins – Joe Joyce and David Adeleye – and was the other potential replacement foe for Wardley’s Portman Road fight after Jarrell Miller pulled out. In the end, of course, it was Huni who stepped in.

As an opponent, he’s perfectly credible. He wouldn’t bring the eyeballs of a Dubois or Joshua, but it could give Team Wardley the opportunity to hold the first defence at Portman Road, for example. Wardley v Hrgovic sells out Town’s ground, no problem.

It would be a good fight too – Olympic bronze medalist Hrgovic is teak tough and has great amateur pedigree, but he’s not hard to hit.

I don’t think it would go the distance, but it could be another classic Wardley fight while it lasts.

Zhilei Zhang is exciting and highly ranked with the WBO

Zhilei Zhang (27-3, 22KO)

‘Big Bang’ Zhang is ranked just behind Hrgovic with the WBO, making him another credible and potential Fab foe.

Although he’s below the likes of Dubois and AJ in terms of casual name recognition – and, bluntly, money on the table – this would be a good, solid first title defence for Fab.

As his nickname suggests, Chinese star Zhang’s got big power in his hands and has some good wins on his record – he’s knocked out Deontay Wilder and Joe Joyce, plus pushed Joseph Parker close.

He’s got a big personality too, and brings the added test of being a southpaw. Like Hrgovic, he could be an option for a Portman Road dust-up.

Derek Chisora would be a surprise pick – but not impossible

Derek Chisora (36-13, 23KO)

Right, let’s chuck a left field one in for my final pick. Chisora is right at the end of his career and looking for a dance partner for his 50th fight.

Could that be Fab? Well, Chisora’s ranked sixth by the WBO, has won three on the bounce and would certainly make the pre-fight build-up interesting.

In the ring, he’d pose a few veteran questions of Wardley too, though I’d back Fab to come through it.

There is also the narrative element – could fairytale world champ and young lion Fabio retire the old warrior Chisora, or would the 41-year-old finally win a world title as he hits his half century?

I’d love to see Fab face British boxing icon AJ

Verdict

So, who will it be? Well, as I said above, I think Dubois is the most likely man to be across the ring from Wardley when he makes his first world title defence, and that would be a huge all-British scrap.

But if I could pick, I’d put Fab in with AJ – it makes a lot of money, will appeal to both sides and has the potential passing of the torch narrative too.

Boxing is boxing though, so plenty could happen between now and whenever Fab makes that next walk.

Whoever he does face though, let’s all remember just how far he’s come to make history – and get right behind him on fight night.