Fabio Wardley ‘disappointed’ as Oleksandr Usyk linked with surprise fight against kickboxing legend

Fabio Wardley is not impressed with suggestions that Oleksandr Usyk could fight kickboxing icon Rico Verhoeven.

Usyk looked on course to face British heavyweight Wardley, but elected to vacate the title and move away from a clash with the rising star.

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As a result, Wardley was upgraded to full champion after capturing the interim belt with victory over Joseph Parker, but missed out on a shot at the Ukrainian.

It was a frustrating period for the Ipswich native, but he has now secured a huge fight against Daniel Dubois on May 9.

Usyk has yet to pencil in his next outing despite initially snubbing Wardley, with a planned bout against Deontay Wilder collapsing.

But Turki Alalshikh has suggested he’d like to see the current unified champion take on GLORY’s long-reigning heavyweight champion Verhoeven.

Wardley understands why Usyk would take that route, but is still frustrated he didn’t get the call.

He told Sky Sports: “I’m hugely disappointed. As proven by this and other fights I want to challenge myself against the best.

“It’s two parts, I’d be disappointed, I don’t feel like it’s a real genuine challenge nor someone that deserves the shot.

“But I do understand or do concede Usyk is at a point in his career, he has earned the point where he’s able to do what he wants for a bit in that sense.

“He’s earned the position to, in that sense, take an easy fight.”

Verhoeven has an extensive background in combat sports and is considered one of the greatest kickboxers of all-time.

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And he has had just one professional boxing fight, which saw him beat limited opposition in Janos Finfera in 2014.

Any bout would likely be a big event with a significant payday, but not one that sets the juices flowing with boxing purists.

Wardley’s disappointment after Usyk decision

Wardley never did get his crowning moment with Usyk’s final decision coming after his victory over Parker.

After being also denied the chance to fight the boxing great, it was a low-key ceremony which placed him top of the heavyweight podium alongside ‘The Cat’.

And he believes he deserves all credit, despite not being able to throw a punch in a full title clash.

He told reporters: “It does feel like I’ve been robbed of my crowning moment. That’s probably the biggest gripe of the whole thing for me.

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“The most aggravating bit was why didn’t you just do it beforehand because if you go do it like a week or two later then like you’re taking the p***.

“There’s no reason. I can’t think of a rational reason as to why because either way I’m going to fight you.

“If you relinquish it and I win the belt on the night I’ll fight you for it next.

“That’s not to take away from it at all because don’t get me wrong it’s one hell of an achievement and I’m still extremely proud of it, but it is still a weird way to kind of receive a world title or then crown yourself and call yourself a world champion.

“But winning this fight will provide me with that moment.

“I want to be able to win it in the ring. I want to be able to hear it. I feel like I was a bit denied the first time around.”