Oleksandr Usyk has officially ditched the WBO heavyweight title after being ordered to defend it against Fabio Wardley — and honestly, the whole situation is peak modern boxing.
I’ve said countless times I don’t like interim titles. I still don’t. They dilute the meaning of a world championship and give sanctioning bodies even more excuses to print belts like novelty T-shirts.
But every now and again… one actually does its job.
And this is one of those moments.
Wardley Earned His Shot — And Then Lost the Moment
Let’s make something clear: Fabio Wardley earned that title opportunity.
He earned it the hard way, too, by stopping Joseph Parker in what might be the sharpest performance of his career so far. If you missed my full breakdown, it’s here:
Wardley vs Parker Knockout Analysis
That win put him right in line for Usyk. That was the night that made people sit up and say:
“He belongs at this level.”
And yet… here we are.
Usyk gets ordered to face him, shrugs, and hands the belt back in. No ring walk, no build-up, no world-title headliner for Wardley. Just a quiet elevation to full champion because the sanctioning body had no choice.
Technically legitimate.
Emotionally hollow.
Unless Wardley’s first defence is against a proper live contender, he’s at real risk of getting hit with the same narrative Daniel Dubois did early on — the whole:
“Yeah, he’s a champion… but who did he beat for it?”
No disrespect to Dubois, but that “asterisk” sticks if the defining night never comes.
Interim Titles: The Necessary Evil I Still Can’t Stand
I hate interim belts on principle.
But days like this remind me why they exist:
1. They stop contenders getting stitched up
Wardley would’ve been left beltless and directionless if the interim title didn’t exist. Usyk had no intention of defending — Wardley shouldn’t have to suffer for that.
2. They keep divisions moving
Boxing is a slow sport at the best of times.
Without an interim belt bridging the gap, the WBO could’ve been frozen for months.
3. They give fighters leverage
Being interim champ put Wardley in a position where the WBO had to elevate him once Usyk walked. Without that? He’s starting from scratch again.
So yes — interim titles are a mess.
But this one at least protected the fighter who deserved his shot.
But Let’s Not Pretend This Is Ideal
Wardley is now a world champion on paper.
But boxing isn’t a paper sport.
It’s about moments, stories, and proving you belong at the top.
Without the Usyk fight, the question mark hangs heavy over his reign.
Fans will ask who he beat for the belt.
Hardcores will want to know if he can do it against the truly elite.
Wardley must take a proper first defence.
Not a padded record.
Not a fringe contender.
Someone who immediately says:
“This is the real deal.”
If the WBO orders a soft touch, this title reign collapses before it gets going.
Where the Heavyweight Division Goes Now
Usyk moves on to the next chapter.
Wardley finally has the world title next to his name.
But the division loses a big moment — a fight that could’ve answered so much about where Wardley really sits among the giants.
Right now, the story feels unfinished.
And unfinished stories tend to get picked apart.
My Verdict? Interim Titles Still Annoy Me — But Wardley Deserved This One
Interim titles shouldn’t be needed.
Sanctioning bodies create half the problems they claim to solve.
But this time?
I’m glad Wardley had one.
Because without it, he’d be standing there empty-handed after doing everything right.
Now he’s champion.
Now the responsibility is his.
If he wants to silence the doubters, he needs a big defence — and fast.
What Do You Think?
Was Wardley robbed of his big night?
Does this elevation feel legitimate to you?
And do interim titles help, or are they part of the problem?
Let me know in the comments, share this post, and head over to CMBoxing for more real boxing talk without the sugar-coating.