Oleksandr Usyk is ‘running away’ from the Fabio Wardley fight, said the British world heavyweight champion’s manager Mike Offo.
The Ukrainian has broken his silence on his next career move after announcing he wants to defend his WBC, WBA and IBF titles against Deontay Wilder.
Usyk was ordered to make a mandatory WBO title defense against Wardley, but the Ukrainian relinquished his belt and his comments sparked a fiery reaction from Ofo, who manages the British career.
“This is sport and business. If Parker won, it’s interesting for me,” Usyk said Boxing King Media.
“If Wardley wins, it’s not interesting to me. I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m giving you (my) belt, maybe we’ll fight together later.’
“A big fight is the only thing that comes to mind.”
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Highlights from Joseph Parker’s heavyweight clash with Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena. (Credit: DAZN)
The WBO ordered Usicki to fight the winner of Joseph Parker v Fabio Wardley, in which the Suffolk fighter emerged victorious with a stunning 11th-round stoppage at the O2, then issued a verbal challenge to Usicic.
Ahead of the Parker fight, Ofo confirmed that Wardley had already agreed financial terms ‘in principle’ to face Usik next.
“Usick’s comments surprised me because I thought he was a champion who has integrity,” Ofo told Sky Sports. “After Usyk came up to heavyweight, he was a must for Anthony Joshua, and Usyk was the one who called for that fight. AJ, being the champion that he is, accepted the challenge.”
“Yes, he lost, but he didn’t avoid it and that’s the way this sport should be played on a level playing field, where you have your commitment and you honor it.”
Wardley’s manager Mike Offo reacted angrily to Usik’s comments
“Can you imagine what would happen in the Champions League if Real Madrid didn’t like to play Barcelona and they said, ‘we’ll give another team a chance to play them, but maybe we’ll play them in the future’? It’s not sport. You can’t choose your opponents.
“Why didn’t he give up the belts beforehand? He was supposed to fight the winner and he didn’t respect that. If he had given up the belt, it would have been Parker vs. Wardley for the world title. He had no interest in fighting Fabio Wardley.”
“Before the fight, in principle, we agreed to all their demands that Fabio would fight Usyk if Fabio won. We didn’t have to fight Parker, we chose to fight Parker because we were running straight to Usyk.
“Usik does the opposite, he runs away from adversity, while we rush towards Usik.”
Ofo questioned Alexander Usyk’s desire to face Deontay Wilder next
Wilder has lost four of his last six fights, including losses to Parker and knockouts to Gilles Zhang and Tyson Fury.
Ofo questioned why Usyk would see Wilder as a better ‘job’ than fighting Wardley.
“Britain is one of the biggest markets out there. You want to fight Wilder who not only lost to the man you beat (Tyson Fury) but also lost to the man your mandatory challenger (Joseph Parker) beat.”
“We sold out arenas, attracted huge crowds to football stadiums and built a huge fan base behind Fabio. Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker made their living from British fight fans, our audience. Usyk built his name here.
“Joseph Parker has no more commercial value than Fabio. Does he even sell out his hometown arena?”
“Total nonsense. It would have been better if Usyk had come out and said he was scared and didn’t want to fight.”
“Wilder is no risk and no guaranteed reward.”
Fabio Wardley will make the first defense of his WBO title early next year
Wardley, who has 19 knockouts in his 20 wins, is scheduled to defend his WBO title early next year.
“Fabio is not only the most exciting heavyweight out there, he’s the most exciting boxer in boxing right now,” said Ofo, who is also the promoter of Platform Sports, who represent fighters such as Dillian Whyte and Mike Perez.
“Whenever Fabio fights, you get knockouts, you get knockdowns, you get cuts, you get controversy. It’s guaranteed excitement. Everything you could want in a fight.
“Fabi’s career will not last, this is shameful for boxing.”
“Fabio is here to stay, he wants to fight the so-called best. He wants to fight Usyk and he wants to fight all the challengers.”
“Fabio never backed down from any challenge and when all is said and done, his legacy will show that he fought anyone and everyone who dared to stand in front of him.”
“Unfortunately, Usyk doesn’t have the kohones to face him, but hopefully he will gain some confidence in the next few months.”