Overview
- World Boxing Organization officials said they received formal notice from Team Usyk and confirmed Wardley’s elevation to full champion.
- The WBO praised Usyk’s reign and described his decision as a “respectful pause,” not a farewell.
- Usyk keeps the WBA, WBC and IBF belts after citing injury for not taking the WBO mandatory, with his next bout yet to be announced.
- Wardley earned interim status by stopping Joseph Parker in the 11th round on Oct. 25 and holds an unbeaten 20-0-1 record with 19 knockouts; he posted “#AndTheNew” in response to the news.
- Some outlets report Parker returned a positive cocaine test linked to the October fight, a separate matter that has drawn scrutiny of the result.