Negotiations have commenced for Oleksandr Usyk and Fabio Wardley’s four-belt shootout.
The Brit stunned the boxing world by blasting away Joseph Parker in the eleventh round on Saturday night at London’s O2 Arena.
In victory, he became the WBO interim heavyweight champion and punched his ticket for a shot at Usyk’s undisputed crown.
The WBO ordered Usyk to defend his world titles against the winner.
And now, both parties have touched base over a future fight, according to Wardley’s promoter Frank Warren.
“At the moment, the deal is Usyk has to defend his WBO title against Fabio; we’re in negotiations,” Warren told Queensberry Promotions.
“If we can’t agree terms, it’ll go to purse bids.
“Whoever wins the purse bids will determine where that fight takes place, and the date and contracts will have to be signed.
“And then Mr Usyk will either sign it or he won’t.
“If he signs it, we’ve got a fight and if he doesn’t Fabio will become the champion, and he’ll fight somebody else.”
When and where could Oleksandr Usyk vs Fabio Wardley take place?
Over the weekend, Warren revealed that he is eyeing a March date for Usyk-Wardley.
He also insisted that London’s Wembley Stadium or the Saudi capital of Riyadh have been earmarked as potential sites.
“The fight won’t be until next year, of course. I think it will be sometime in March,” Warren told assembled media at the Parker vs Wardley post-fight press conference.
“I’d love it to be in the UK, but there are only two places for this fight, and that’s either in Riyadh or here in London, that’s it.
“I’d do it at Wembley Stadium and it would be a sell-out.
“You know what you’re getting with Usyk, and you know what you’re getting with Fabio; it’s going to be exciting.
“Fabio has got to be one of the most exciting fighters in the world.
“As a draw, Fabio is one of the biggest draws in boxing.
“In his last fight at Ipswich, he drew 27,000 people to a football stadium in heavy rain.
“Then tonight shows he’s a massive attraction, and it will only get bigger.”
