What next for heavyweight division after Wardley win?

Following a shocking 11th-round stoppage victory over Joseph Parker at London’s O2 Arena, Fabio Wardley has established himself as the heavyweight champion.

With 19 impressive stops, Wardley’s unbeaten streak reached 21-20 wins and a draw with the victory.

Wardley is also in line for a life-changing opportunity against undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, who won Parker’s WBO “interim” title.

Will Wardley eventually become the unbeaten two-weight champion?

What other conflicts are occurring? What other events might be possible?

The WBO instructed the 38-year-old to begin negotiations for a defense against Parker, who must now face mandatory challenger, just five days after winning.

However, the Ukrainian was given a longer period of recovery time to begin discussions with Parker’s team because of a back injury.

Usyk stated earlier this month that he wanted to stay in the ring until 2025, but that he did not intend to do so.

Following Wardley’s victory, the WBO may initiate negotiations with Usyk’s mandatory challenger.

After his most recent victory, Wardley made no secret of his desire to confront the champion next.

In his post-fight interview, he said, “I have one thing to say: Usyk, Usyk.”

Usyk, the former champion of cruiserweight, might even choose to swerve Wardley.

If he does, Wardley could be given a champion belt and forced to resign.

The heavyweight division has been halted because Usyk is yet to decide where to fight next. In the final two months of 2025, there are no fights at the international level.

Frazer Clarke and Jeamie “TKV” Tshikeva will square off against one another in a British heavyweight title match on November 29 at Derby’s Vaillant Arena.

Prior to TKV’s injury, the fight was originally scheduled for October 25.

Anthony Joshua, the two-time heavyweight champion, is awaiting news on his fight date.

Joshua hasn’t fought since September 2024 when he was so devastatingly knocked out by fellow Briton Dubois in the fifth round.

The 36-year-old underwent elbow surgery in May, and there have been rumors of a possible December date.

Eddie Hearn, the manager of Matchroom, said it’s “50-50” that Joshua will fight in a warm-up fight this year, but he also made it possible for him to appear on a card in California on December 13 or possibly in Saudi Arabia on December 27.

Hearn told Ring Magazine, “We might not even make it something we make announcements weeks or weeks beforehand, because that defeats the purpose.”

He is working out in the gym and staying ready, so we could say, “You’re out in two weeks in an eight-rounder.”

Moses Itauma, a rising star, is Britain’s next great heavyweight champion, but the 20-year-old has yet to decide on his next fight.

With a first-round stoppage of Dillian Whyte in August, Itauma further strengthened his reputation, extending his perfect record to 13 victories and 11 clinches.

After that incredible victory, Itauma was linked to fights with David Adeleye, Michael Hunter, and Filip Hrgovic.

Derek Chisora suggested that he and Itauma fight on December 13 in Manchester, and Team Itauma was considering doing so.

The Chatham heavyweight is currently unsure about that date because he is still learning about boxing politics.

Kubrat Pulev, the reigning WBA “regular” champion, was given the order to defend his belt against Itauma on October 14, but the 44-year-old has already announced plans to fight Russian Murat Gassiev on December 12.

Both parties have 30 days to finalize a deal thanks to the WBA order.

According to Itauma’s promoter Frank Warren of Queensberry, “Pulev has to fight Moses next, along with London and Manchester.

Itauma has also been suggested as a potential opponent of Undisputed Champion Usyk, but the Ukrainian refuted those rumors earlier this month.

Before Wardley’s victory over Parker, Chisora showed up on stage at the O2 Arena alongside fellow British heavyweights Whyte and Jarrell Miller.

It’s never easy to predict Tyson Fury’s future plans.

After falling to Usyk for a second time a month earlier, the two-time heavyweight champion made the announcement of his retirement in January.

Fury has teased comebacks for the past nine months before switching things around.

Fury has stated that he wants to fight Joshua in the ring, but that he still wants to stay on the other side of the ropes.

Fury claimed there was “no actual reason for me to go back in the boxing ring” in a recent interview with FurociTV.