Fabio Wardley has welcomed the idea of defending his WBO heavyweight title against a returning Tyson Fury, insisting he has no intention of taking easy options as champion.
Elevated to full WBO champion in November, Wardley made it clear he is more than open to negotiations. Speaking to Sky Sports, the 31-year-old said Fury was already on his own hit list and stressed that holding a world title means facing the biggest names available. While acknowledging Fury’s stature, Wardley warned that recent opponents have discovered he is far from a safe comeback fight, describing himself as “quite the banana skin.”
The Ipswich fighter backed up his confidence by pointing to his dramatic rise, capped by an 11th-round stoppage of Joseph Parker in October to win the interim belt before Usyk vacated the title. Wardley emphasized that regardless of the occasion or opponent, he always believes he has a chance and refuses to give in until the final bell.
While a Fury fight would be the highest-profile option, Wardley also mentioned former sparring partner Derek Chisora as another possible opponent for his first defense, potentially in April or May. A bout with Chisora, who is nearing his 50th and final fight, was framed as a fan-friendly showdown, but Wardley made clear that whoever steps in the ring with him will be getting a champion eager to prove himself on the biggest stage.
Image Credit: Ready To Fight