Usyk open to Wardley unification after Briton proves himself

Oleksandr Usyk will consider a heavyweight unification with WBO champion Fabio Wardley once the Briton demonstrates he belongs at the top level, according to the Ukrainian's promotional team.

Sergey Lapin, chief executive of Usyk's Ready To Fight company, told Sky Sports that Wardley could enter the conversation for a shot at the WBC, WBA and IBF belts if he shows he can compete with the division's best. "If Fabio Wardley proves himself at the highest level, he can definitely become part of that conversation," Lapin said.

Wardley faces Dubois test this weekend

Wardley defends his WBO strap against Daniel Dubois in Manchester this weekend, a bout that could serve as his audition for the Usyk fight. Dubois holds a win over Anthony Joshua and previously held the IBF title, making him the kind of resume-building opponent Wardley needs to convince Usyk's camp he is ready.

Lapin noted that a third undisputed run would appeal to Usyk, who has already cleaned out cruiserweight and twice unified all four heavyweight belts. "Becoming a three-time undisputed heavyweight champion would be something historic, and Oleksandr is always motivated by the biggest challenges," he said. But Ready To Fight is not locked into one path — WBC mandatory Agit Kabayel also remains in the mix for a defence later this year.

Usyk boxes kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven next month in Giza before returning to conventional heavyweight action. Lapin said the Ukrainian's priorities have shifted from pure sporting legacy to a balance of competition and commercial value. "For many years Oleksandr accepted fights based mainly on sporting value, often without focusing on the business side," he explained. "Now it's different. At this stage, both sporting and business factors matter."

The unbeaten Olympic gold medallist vacated the WBO title last year to pursue other options, allowing Wardley to be upgraded from interim champion to full titleholder. If Wardley gets past Dubois and Usyk handles Verhoeven, a unification could land in late 2026 or early 2027.

Source: skysports.com