Oleksandr Usyk camp tell Fabio Wardley what he needs to do to set up unification fight

Oleksandr Usyk will unify the heavyweight division against Britain’s Fabio Wardley, on one condition, says the Ukrainian’s promoter, Sergey Lapin.

Usyk, the reigning WBC, WBA and IBF champion, is currently preparing for his upcoming fight against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven, which will take place in Giza, Egypt, on May 23, while Wardley defends his WBO strap against former world champion Daniel Dubois in Manchester on Saturday (May 9).

The Ukrainian has defeated all challengers – including Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Dubois – in the heavyweight ranks and remains undefeated as he enters the twilight of what has been a Hall of Fame career, with the 37-year-old previously becoming both the undisputed heavyweight and cruiserweight champion – and that’s without mention of his 2012 Olympic gold medal triumph.

As for Wardley, who started his career as an unlicensed white-collar fighter while still working a 9–5 job in recruitment, he is also undefeated and boasts notable wins against Justis Huni and, most recently, former world champion Joseph Parker.

Will Wardley fight Usyk to unify heavyweight belts?

Both men are world champions in their own right, but what needs to happen for the pair to come together and unify the four recognised world title belts?

According to Usyk’s promoter, Lapin, Wardley must first prove himself “at the highest level” before sharing a ring with the great Ukrainian.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “If Fabio Wardley proves himself at the highest level, he can definitely become part of that conversation.

“Becoming a three-time undisputed heavyweight champion would be something historic, and Oleksandr is always motivated by the biggest challenges.

“At the same time, we don't build our plans around one name or one outcome. There are several strong contenders in the division, and we are focused on the biggest and most meaningful fights available.”

Usyk may also consider taking on Germany’s Agit Kabayel, who is currently the mandatory challenger with the WBC.

“If it's Fabio Wardley, it could potentially be for undisputed. If it's Agit Kabayel, it would more likely be a title defence,” Lapin added.

“But we don't like to look too far ahead. Right now, we have a fight with Rico Verhoeven, and all our focus is on that.

“Oleksandr has already achieved what very few fighters in history have done, so now it's not about chasing titles for the sake of it.

“For many years, Oleksandr accepted fights based mainly on sporting value, often without focusing on the business side. He was building his legacy.

“Now it's different. At this stage, both sporting and business factors matter.”