Wardley vacates British title as WBA shot beckons
Unbeaten Fabio Wardley has given up his British heavyweight belt as he looks to step up into world title contention.
Wardley, from Ipswich, is in line to meet Bulgarian veteran Kubrat Pulev for the WBA regular title after being named as mandatory challenger.
He remains Commonwealth champion, but David Adeleye and Jeamie Tshikeva will now meet for the vacant British title in Manchester on 5 April.
Adeleye's only defeat in 14 pro fights was a seventh-round stoppage by Wardley in 2023, while Tshikeva has an 8-1 record.
Wardley won the British title by beating Nathan Gorman in three rounds in November 2022, and stopped Olympic medallist Frazer Clarke in one round in his most recent fight in Riyadh in October.
Following formal notice that the 30-year-old had relinquished the title, he posted on X: "Thank you for the history."
The WBA said the mandatory defence period for Pulev to meet Wardley will end on 4 April.
The winner must then defend against American Michael Hunter, who has won 24 of his professional bouts, before 25 October of this year.
Wardley came into boxing without an amateur background, having previously been a recruitment consultant in the City of London.
He made his professional debut in April 2017, on the same night as fellow Briton and current IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, albeit at different UK venues.
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