Fabio Wardley

Fabio Wardley (born 18 December 1994) is a British professional boxer. He held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title from 2025 to May 2026. 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.

Early life Wardley was raised by his mother, a single parent. Prior to boxing, he worked as a recruitment consultant and played football on the weekends.

Wardley began boxing at the late age of 21, going on to compete in four white-collar boxing shows, winning all of them by knockout. He had no amateur experience before turning professional.

Professional career Early career Wardley turned professional in 2017 at the age of 22, having signed with Mervyn Turner's Shamrock Boxing Promotions. In his first bout he defeated Jakob Wojcik by decision at York Hall.

He claimed the vacant English heavyweight title when he beat Simon Vallily by third-round knockout on 1 August 2020.

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.

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.

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.

Wardley vs. Clarke II In August 2024, Wardley signed a multi-fight deal with Frank Warren's Queensbury Promotions, ahead of a rematch with Clarke at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol on 12 October 2024. Wardley won by devastating knockout in the first round. Clarke suffered a broken jaw and visible skull deformation following the bout.

Wardley vacated his British title in March 2025 after being named as mandatory challenger for the WBA regular heavyweight championship held by Kubrat Pulev.

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 pulled out on 30 April, citing a shoulder injury. 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.

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.

WBO heavyweight champion Wardley was promoted to full WBO heavyweight champion on 17 November 2025 when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the title after being ordered to face him.

Wardley vs. Dubois Wardley was scheduled to make a voluntary first defence of his WBO heavyweight title against former IBF heavyweight world champion Daniel Dubois at the Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on 9 May 2026.

On the night of the fight, Wardley started the first round aggressively, knocking Dubois down just ten seconds into the contest with a clean right hand. He followed this up by dropping Dubois again in the third round. However, Dubois gradually took control of the centre of the ring as the fight progressed. By the later rounds, Wardley began to tire and suffered significant swelling to his right eye as a result of repeated shots to the face. The contest ended in the eleventh round when, after continuous power shots from Dubois, the referee intervened to save a defenceless Wardley from further punishment. Dubois was declared the winner via technical knockout, claiming the WBO title to become a two-time world heavyweight champion.

Personal life Wardley is a lifelong fan of local team Ipswich Town F.C.. He told BBC Radio Suffolk in October 2024 that it was his 'dream' to fight at Ipswich Town's home ground of Portman Road, which he eventually achieved with his knockout victory over Justis Huni on 7 June 2025. In 2025, Wardley became a father with the birth of his daughter.

Professional boxing record

Titles in boxing

Major world titles

WBO heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)

Interim world titles WBA interim heavyweight champion (200+ lbs) WBO interim heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)

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)