Wardley vacates his title?

Fabio Wardley is eyeing a showdown with Kubrat Pulev, putting him on course to vacate his British heavyweight title. The 30-year-old Wardley scored the biggest win of his career in October 2024 when he stunned Frazer Clarke with a first-round stoppage. Now, under Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, he’s keen to push into top-tier heavyweight contention sooner rather than later.

Pulev secured the WBA “regular” heavyweight title in December by defeating Mahmoud Charr and remains a prominent name in the division. Wardley, ranked number one by the WBA, believes a fight with Pulev would be an ideal springboard - possibly big enough to fulfill his dream of headlining at Portman Road Stadium, home of his beloved Ipswich Town. Still, he’s keeping his options open until negotiations finalize.

Wardley has already defended his British and Commonwealth belts twice but admits he’s “pretty much done with British level” and is leaning toward relinquishing the title. That could pave the way for others to compete for the iconic Lonsdale Belt while Wardley sets his sights on bigger matchups. His move to Queensberry has elevated his profile significantly, especially following his pair of thrilling fights with Clarke last year.

The Ipswich native also continues to discuss a potential homecoming bout for local fans. Whether that involves Pulev or another top-10 heavyweight, Wardley insists he wants “big, entertaining fights” that keep him in the world title picture. Timing and availability of suitable opponents remain the major hurdles, but Wardley seems poised to go all in on a big clash this year.