\n Fabio Wardley stopped ex-world champion Joseph Parker last month (Image: PA)\n<\/p>\n
\n How we got here\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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).\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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…\n<\/p>\n
\n Fabio Wardley will have a voluntary defence of his WBO world title first (Image: Leigh Dawney\/Queensberry.)\n<\/p>\n
\n The rules\n<\/p>\n
\n Before we get to the fights, just a reminder of the rules. World champions have both voluntary and mandatory defences.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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?\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n Fabio won’t be fighting Oleksandr Usyk – at least not just yet (Image: PA Sport)\n<\/p>\n
\n Who it won’t be\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n I don’t think Fab will fight Moses Itauma for a while yet (Image: PA)\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n I think Itauma will chase the WBA belt instead, with the aging – and very beatable – Kubrat Pulev currently holding their ‘regular’ title.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n Daniel Dubois could very well be Fab’s next foe\n<\/p>\n
\n Who it could be\n<\/p>\n
\n Right, finally we get to the men it could be. I think five names stand out – so let’s look at each in turn….\n<\/p>\n
\n Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21KO)\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n I like Wardley to win this inside six rounds, in a spectacular firefight.\n<\/p>\n
\n Anthony Joshua would be the biggest money fight for Fabio Wardley (Image: PA)\n<\/p>\n
\n Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25KO)\n<\/p>\n
\n Of all the fighters on this list, AJ is still THE money.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n Filip Hrgovic, right, would be a solid choice as a first title defence (Image: PA Wire\/PA Images)\n<\/p>\n
\n Filip Hrgovic ( 19-1, 14KO)\n<\/p>\n
\n As it stands, Croatian star Hrgovic is the highest ranked WBO heavyweight not named Itauma.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n I don’t think it would go the distance, but it could be another classic Wardley fight while it lasts.\n<\/p>\n
\n Zhilei Zhang is exciting and highly ranked with the WBO\n<\/p>\n
\n Zhilei Zhang (27-3, 22KO)\n<\/p>\n
\n ‘Big Bang’ Zhang is ranked just behind Hrgovic with the WBO, making him another credible and potential Fab foe.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n Derek Chisora would be a surprise pick – but not impossible\n<\/p>\n
\n Derek Chisora (36-13, 23KO)\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n In the ring, he’d pose a few veteran questions of Wardley too, though I’d back Fab to come through it.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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?\n<\/p>\n
\n I’d love to see Fab face British boxing icon AJ\n<\/p>\n
\n Verdict\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n Boxing is boxing though, so plenty could happen between now and whenever Fab makes that next walk.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Fabio Wardley stopped ex-world champion Joseph Parker last month (Image: PA) How we got here Just a quick…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":292499,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[2560,101,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-292498","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-boxing","8":"tag-boxing","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292498","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=292498"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292498\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/292499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=292498"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=292498"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=292498"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}