Fabio Wardley's longtime manager Dillian Whyte has expressed his belief that undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk will face the in-form Ipswich man in the early part of 2026.

If the unbeaten Ukrainian emerges unscathed against a dangerous former sparring partner, Whyte - who held WBC interim world honours in 2021 - believes the achievement would cement his status as the greatest fighter over the last 20 years, having consistently racked up victories against the world's best across cruiserweight and heavyweight since 2016.

Much like Joseph Parker's team were pleasantly encouraged by Usyk's willingness to fight the winner during the build-up to last month's firefight, Whyte told Sky Sports that as an honourable man, it wasn't in his nature to shy away from the next challenge.

Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) overcame a tetchy start and produced another come-from-behind victory, this time a round later than his dramatic 10th-round knockout win over Justis Huni, to seize Parker's WBO interim title during an entertaining encounter neither man needed to take.

Instead, the 30-year-old was unwilling to sit back and wait for an uncertain WBA holding pattern to end and took his opportunity, when many counted him out. The same underdog role would appear again against Usyk, who he sparred as a four-bout pro novice in 2018.

"Usyk's faced all the best fighters, doesn't seem to run away from any challenge. If you look at the last 10 fights Oleksandr has had, it's the best fighter at cruiserweight, the best in the world, the same at heavyweight - no reason why he shouldn't fight Fabio," Whyte said.

"You never know a big fight might come out of left field for Usyk, but as a fan and as the kind of person I think is, I don't think he'll vacate. I think he'll fight Fabio and if he beats him, on top of the list of all the people he's beaten, that puts him definitely as the greatest fighter of the last 20 years."

A potential trilogy bout with Tyson Fury has been mooted but since rejected by Team Usyk, while crossover fights against UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and an MMA fight with polarising cruiserweight Jake Paul have also caused speculation this year.

Paul congratulated and engaged in a light-hearted faceoff with Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) in the ring moments after his fifth-round stoppage win over then IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois during their rematch at Wembley on July 19, becoming a two-time undisputed heavyweight king.

"He's fought champions, contenders, top contenders and he's fighting different fighters across different generations as well and beating them, beaten all the guys in his generation, the guys before him and the guys coming after him," Whyte continued.

Post-fight after his latest O2 Arena success, Whyte spoke about 'gambler' Wardley and how critics are only now starting to give him his respect, having continued to break new ground and pass tests against opposition many felt would prove too experienced for him.

"He just keeps beating all these guys, who should be destroying him and he beats them up easily. I think Fabio's going to be a world champion and wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being an undisputed world champion."