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Fabio Wardley Victory Tightens Frank Warren's Control Over Heavyweight Divison
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Declan Taylor
Declan Taylor
RingMagazine.com
Fabio Wardley Victory Tightens Frank Warren's Control Over Heavyweight Divison
Fabio Wardley’s victory over Justis Huni not only continued his march towards a world title shot but also further tightened Frank Warren's and Queensberry Promotions’ stranglehold on the heavyweight division.

Although Ring Magazine champion Oleksandr Usyk, who also holds the WBO, WBA and WBC belts, is not promoted by Warren, IBF champion Daniel Dubois has been with Queensberry for the entirety of his career.

The pair meet in an undisputed fight at Wembley Stadium on July 19 to decide whether Usyk is still the No.1 heavyweight on the planet or if Dubois, 27, will usher in a new era for the division.

But while all this is going on, Queensberry have stealthily gained control of those in the chasing pack that matter. Wardley’s victory secured the WBA interim title which will put him towards the front of the queue for a shot at whoever wins in July.

Huni, who is promoted by Eddie Hearn and Matchroom along with Tasman Fighters, looked to be on his way to delivering them a key player in the mix but Wardley’s dramatic knockout kept the key WBA position in Warren’s stable.




Also due a mandatory shot is Joseph Parker, the WBO’s interim champion, another fighter aligned with Queensberry, whose last four fights have been on Riyadh Season cards in Saudi Arabia promoted by Warren.

With the IBF, Derek Chisora is mandatory despite an ordered final eliminator between Filip Hrgovic and Frank Sanchez. Chisora is waiting for his opportunity to fight for the belt in what he has promised will be his 50th and final fight.

The WBC is also a stronghold for Queensberry, with interim champion Agit Kabayel and No. 1 ranked Lawrence Okolie also under contract. A fight between the pair has been suggested but nothing has been confirmed yet.

As reported by The Ring, WBO No.1 Moses Itauma, the most prodigious young heavyweight since Mike Tyson, is set to face Dillian Whyte in Riyadh on Aug. 16. Like Dubois, Itauma, 20, has also been a Queensberry fighter since he turned professional and a victory over Whyte will only raise the volume on the calls for him to be delivered a world title fight.

On the situation, Warren said: “There’s a big fight on a big show on the 19th of July with four belts on the line.

“Someone will come away with those four belts and once that is done there will be some mandatories called.




“During that period of time, they will all get a shot at the belts.”

It seems unlikely that Wardley will be next in line once all is decided at Wembley Stadium, but if any fragmentation of the four belts occurs, he may just secure a shot at the full WBA title should it become vacant.

Wardley is set to take a few months out of the gym with the arrival of his first child, a daughter, imminent. But Warren says he will be ready to make another big fight for the 30-year-old contender as soon as he gets the call.

Warren added: “Him and his partner are having a baby, that’s what is happening next. Then he’s the WBA interim champion.

“For me, as long as Fabio feels he is ready to go we will be here to make it happen. He’s a promoter’s dream —he makes it very easy for us.

“And when it comes to Portman Road, we are like Arnold Schwarzenegger. We will be back.”


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