Fabio Wardley
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 December 1994 Ipswich, Suffolk, England |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) |
| Weight | Heavyweight |
| Boxing career | |
| Reach | 78 in (198 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 21 |
| Wins | 20 |
| Win by KO | 19 |
| Draws | 1 |
Fabio Wardley (born 18 December 1994) is a British professional boxer. He has held the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) heavyweight title since 2025. He also held the World Boxing Association (WBA) interim heavyweight title in 2025. At regional level, he has held multiple heavyweight championships, including the British and Commonwealth titles between 2022 and 2025.
In 2025, Wardley swept British Fighter of the Year honours from ESPN, Boxing News, and British Boxing News, with his knockout of Justis Huni also earning Knockout of the Year recognition from each outlet.[1][2][3][4]
Professional career
Early career
Wardley is managed by Dillian Whyte[5] and trained by Ben Davidson[6] He has won 20 of his 21 professional fights, with 19 of them by knockout.
He claimed the vacant English heavyweight title when he beat Simon Vallily by third-round knockout on 1 August 2020.[7][8]
British and Commonwealth champion
Wardley vs. Gorman
Wardley won the British heavyweight title on 26 November 2022 by forcing a corner stoppage in the third round against Nathan Gorman.[9][10]
Wardley vs. Adeleye
On 28 October 2023, Wardley fought David Adeleye on the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou contest in Saudi Arabia with the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title, Wardley's British championship and Adeleye's WBO European heavyweight belt and WBA intercontinental heavyweight title all up for grabs. Wardley won the fight via TKO in the seventh round.[11][12]
Wardley vs. Clarke
On 31 March 2024, he retained his four titles with a split decision draw against Frazer Clarke at The O2 Arena in London. One ringside judge scored the fight 114–113 to Wardley, another had it 115–112 for Clarke while the third ruled the contest a 113–113 tie.[13][14][15]
Wardley vs. Clarke II
In August 2024, Wardley signed a multi-fight deal with Frank Warren's Queensbury Promotions[16] ahead of a rematch with Clarke at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 12 October 2024, which he won by knockout in the first round.[17][18][19]
Wardley vacated his British title in March 2025 after being named as mandatory challenger for the WBA regular heavyweight championship held by Kubrat Pulev.[20]
WBA and WBO interim heavyweight champion
Wardley vs. Huni
He faced Justis Huni for the WBA interim heavyweight title at Portman Road in Ipswich on 7 June 2025. Originally, he was set to face Jarrell Miller for the title, but Miller had to pull out on April 30, citing a shoulder injury.[21] Huni outboxed Wardley for nine rounds and was well ahead on the scorecards before Wardley suddenly knocked him out in the tenth round with an overhand right, winning the title.[22]
Wardley vs. Parker
On 25 October 2025, Wardley beat former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in the eleventh round via TKO. After stunning Parker and forcing him against the ropes, Wardley unleashed a barrage of punches that prompted referee Howard Foster to stop the fight. With this victory, Wardley captured the WBO interim heavyweight title.[23]
WBO heavyweight champion
Wardley was promoted to full WBO champion on 17 November 2025 when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title after being ordered to face him.[24][25]
Wardley vs. Dubois
Wardley is scheduled to make the first defence of his WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois in Manchester, England, on 9 May 2026.[26]
Professional boxing record
| 21 fights | 20 wins | 0 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 19 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Win | 20–0–1 | Joseph Parker | TKO | 11 (12), 1:54 | 25 Oct 2025 | The O2 Arena, London, England | Won WBO interim heavyweight title |
| 20 | Win | 19–0–1 | Justis Huni | KO | 10 (12), 1:42 | 7 Jun 2025 | Portman Road, Ipswich, England | Won vacant WBA interim heavyweight title |
| 19 | Win | 18–0–1 | Frazer Clarke | TKO | 1 (12), 2:28 | 12 Oct 2024 | Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Retained British, Commonwealth, and WBA Continental heavyweight titles |
| 18 | Draw | 17–0–1 | Frazer Clarke | SD | 12 | 31 Mar 2024 | The O2 Arena, London, England | Retained British, Commonwealth, WBA Continental, and WBO European heavyweight titles |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | David Adeleye | TKO | 7 (12), 2:43 | 28 Oct 2023 | Boulevard Hall, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Retained British, and WBA Continental heavyweight titles; Won WBO European, and vacant Commonwealth heavyweight titles |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Michael Polite Coffie | TKO | 4 (10), 0:45 | 1 Apr 2023 | The O2 Arena, London, England | Won vacant WBA Continental heavyweight title |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Nathan Gorman | TKO | 3 (12), 0:32 | 26 Nov 2022 | Wembley Arena, London, England | Won vacant British heavyweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Chris Healey | TKO | 2 (8), 0:40 | 9 Jul 2022 | The O2 Arena, London, England | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Daniel Martz | KO | 2 (10), 1:30 | 27 Feb 2022 | The O2 Arena, London, England | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Nick Webb | KO | 1 (10), 2:30 | 7 Aug 2021 | Matchroom Headquarters, Brentwood, England | Retained English heavyweight title |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Éric Molina | KO | 5 (10), 0:52 | 27 Mar 2021 | Europa Point Sports Complex, Gibraltar | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Richard Lartey | TKO | 2 (10), 1:22 | 21 Nov 2020 | Wembley Arena, London, England | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Simon Vallily | TKO | 3 (10), 1:01 | 1 Aug 2020 | Matchroom Headquarters, Brentwood, England | Won vacant English heavyweight title |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Mariano Ruben Diaz Strunz | TKO | 6 (8), 1:06 | 20 Jul 2019 | The O2 Arena, London, England | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Dennis Lewandowski | TKO | 3 (8), 2:35 | 10 May 2019 | Nottingham Arena, Nottingham, England | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Morgan Dessaux | TKO | 1 (6), 1:43 | 2 Feb 2019 | The O2 Arena, London, England | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Phil Williams | TKO | 3 (4), 1:58 | 22 Dec 2018 | The O2 Arena, London, England | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Ferenc Zsalek | KO | 1 (6), 1:41 | 26 May 2018 | Corn Exchange, Ipswich, England | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Scott Saward | KO | 1 (4), 2:54 | 18 Nov 2017 | Epic Centre, Norwich, England | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Zheko Zhekov | TKO | 1 (4), 2:46 | 22 Jul 2017 | Epic Centre, Norwich, England | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Jakub Wójcicki | PTS | 4 | 8 Apr 2017 | York Hall, London, England |
Titles in boxing
Major world titles
- WBO heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)
Interim world titles
Regional/International titles
- Commonwealth heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)
- British heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)
- WBO European heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)
- WBA Continental heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)
- English heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)
See also
- List of male boxers
- List of British world boxing champions
- List of world heavyweight boxing champions
References
- ^ "British boxing awards 2025: Fighter of the year, best moment, best knockout". ESPN.com. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ "UK Fighter of the Year". pocketmags.com. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ "Knockout of the Year". pocketmags.com. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ "British Boxing News Awards 2025". britishboxingnews.co.uk. 23 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ "Dillian Whyte says his protege Fabio Wardley has an aura of 'invincibility'". 26 March 2021.
- ^ "It's going to be a very exciting year". 22 November 2018.
- ^ "Ted Cheeseman beats Sam Eggington at Eddie Hearn's garden Fight Camp". BBC. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Eggington vs Cheeseman: Fabio Wardley stops Simon Vallily in three rounds of heavyweight grudge match". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ Lewis, Ron (26 November 2022). "Fabio Wardley Drops Nathan Gorman Three Times, Stops Him in Third". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
- ^ "Boxing Results: Fabio Wardley Beats Nathan Gorman And Wins Vacant British Heavyweight Title". Boxing News 24. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "Wardley stops Adeleye to retain British heavyweight title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ "Fabio Wardley Drops, Stops David Adeleye in Seventh of Grudge Match". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "Fabio Wardley v Frazer Clarke: Bruising British heavyweight title fight ends in split-decision draw". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke fight to bloody draw". ESPN. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "Heavyweights Frazer Clarke and Fabio Wardley Share a Wild, Brutal Draw". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "Fabio Wardley signs with Queensberry ahead of Frazer Clarke rematch". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "Fabio Wardley thrashes Frazer Clarke in rematch, first round knockout". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "Fabio Wardley delivers brutal first-round knockout victory against Frazer Clarke in Riyadh". TNT Sports. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "Fabio Wardley knocks out Frazer Clarke in first round of heavyweight rematch". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "Wardley vacates British title as WBA shot beckons". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "Fabio Wardley faces Jarrell Miller in Portman Road showdown". Boxing News Online. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- ^ Taylor, Declan (7 June 2025). "Fabio Wardley saves homecoming with spectacular come-from-behind 10th-round KO to beat Justis Huni". The Ring.
- ^ "Parker vs Wardley: Fabio Wardley stops Joseph Parker in huge heavyweight upset". BBC Sport. 25 October 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
- ^ "Wardley becomes WBO heavyweight champion after Usyk vacates belt". The Guardian.
- ^ "Wardley's journey to world champ is unbelievable". BBC News.
- ^ "Wardley vs Dubois confirmed for May in Manchester". FIGHTMAG. 13 February 2026.
External links
- Boxing record for Fabio Wardley from BoxRec (registration required)
- Fabio Wardley - Profile, News Archive & Current Rankings at Box.Live
| Sporting positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional boxing titles | ||||
| Vacant Title last held by Daniel Dubois
|
English heavyweight champion 1 August 2020 – March 2023 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Solomon Dacres
| ||
| Vacant Title last held by Joe Joyce
|
British heavyweight champion 26 November 2022 – 14 March 2025 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by David Adeleye
| ||
| Vacant Title last held by Agit Kabayel
|
WBA Continental heavyweight champion 1 April 2023 – March 2025 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Artem Suslenkov
| ||
| Vacant Title last held by Joe Joyce
|
Commonwealth heavyweight champion 28 October 2023 – 7 June 2025 Won interim title |
Vacant Title next held by Moses Itauma
| ||
| Preceded by David Adeleye
|
WBO European heavyweight champion 28 October 2023 – July 2024 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Nelson Hysa
| ||
| World boxing titles | ||||
| Vacant Title last held by Daniel Dubois
|
WBA heavyweight champion Interim title 7 June 2025 – 25 October 2025 Vacated |
Vacant | ||
| Preceded by | WBO heavyweight champion Interim title 25 October 2025 – 17 November 2025 Promoted | |||
| Preceded by | WBO heavyweight champion 17 November 2025 – present |
Incumbent | ||