Fabio Wardley admits he is confused by Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to relinquish his WBO crown.
Wardley was elevated to WBO heavyweight champion from interim titlist after Usyk vacated the belt on Monday.
Usyk was ordered to face then-interim champion, Joseph Parker after beating Daniel Dubois to become undisputed titlist in July, but was granted an extension on negotiations after suffering an injury.
Parker opted to face Wardley last month and lost out on his position after he was stopped in the 11th round at the O2 Arena.
Wardley says he can’t understand the Ukrainian’s decision to relinquish the belt.
“I don’t know what he may be planning for himself,” the 30-year-old told Sky Sports.
“Whether the be retirement, whether it’ll be a different fight, whether it’ll be another alternative.
“I don’t really know.
“But it’s a bit of a strange one, because initially he took a bit of a break.
“He was allowed an absence, an extension on the belt and then to give it up after just seems a bit of a strange move.
“So no I’m not too sure what he was thinking.”
Usyk, 38, revealed that he will continue his career until he’s 41-years-old.
Wardley called for a showdown with him after halting Parker and remains hopeful that it can still materialise despite his decision.
“If I could pick, I would pick the man that gave me the belt in a sense,” he added.
“I’d pick Oleksandr Usyk.
“That would be the fight that I would want, it was the fight that I wanted.
“That was where me and the team were aiming, that’s where our sights were headed after we finished our fight on October 25 and after we win and got the interim.
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“We we all gearing towards that fight and obviously the main man himself.
“So if he’s watching, if his team are watching, maybe have a little reconsider.
“Maybe give me a call, we can work something out.”
It remains unclear who Usyk is eyeing next although WBC interim champion, Agit Kabayel could be in line for a shot providing he beats Damian Knyba on January 10.
Usyk’s manager, Sergey Lapin says he vacated to give an opportunity for younger fighters to challenge for world honours.
“Oleksandr vacated the belt to give younger fighters the opportunity to box for it,” Lapin told proboxing-fans.com.
“We’ll see how things develop next.”
