Oleksandr Usyk has officially relinquished his WBO heavyweight title, notifying the World Boxing Organisation that he would not pursue a mandatory defence against Britain’s Fabio Wardley, the WBO confirmed on Monday.

The governing body said it received “formal communication” from Usyk’s team and confirmed the 38-year-old had “elected to relinquish the title after thoughtful consideration.”

Following Usyk’s decision, 30-year-old Wardley is expected to be elevated to WBO heavyweight champion, according to Sky Sports.

Usyk currently holds the WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles. He regained the IBF belt in December by stopping Britain’s Daniel Dubois, restoring his status as the undisputed champion. Usyk first became a four-belt undisputed champion in May 2024 after defeating Tyson Fury but vacated the IBF title the following month due to mandatory rematch obligations.

WBO president Gustavo Olivieri paid tribute to Usyk in an emotional statement, calling him “a champion of champions.”

“The WBO extends its profound respect, admiration, and gratitude to Oleksandr Usyk, an undefeated, two-division WBO undisputed world champion,” Olivieri said. “His career stands as one of the most extraordinary and historic of the modern boxing era.”

The WBO added that Usyk had exemplified all the rights, privileges, and honors of the WBO Super Champion distinction.

“We accept and respect his decision to relinquish the WBO heavyweight super championship,” the organisation said. “This is not a farewell but—as expressed by his team—a respectful pause. The doors of the WBO will always remain open to Oleksandr Usyk and his team.”

Usyk first won the WBO belt in 2021 by defeating Anthony Joshua and later added the WBC title after beating Fury. During his reign, he defended the WBO crown four times.

In July, the WBO had ordered negotiations for a mandatory defence against interim champion Joseph Parker, giving both camps 30 days to reach an agreement before a purse bid. Parker, who claimed the interim title last year by defeating Zhilei Zhang and retained it in February by stopping Martin Bakole, remained the organisation’s official challenger.