Fabio Wardley says Tyson Fury can’t beat him or Oleksandr Usyk right now

Wardley made it clear he would take the fight if it came his way, but his view of the outcome is straightforward. “If Fury beats Makhmudov on Saturday, I wouldn’t be surprised if he calls me out, and I’d 100% be up for that fight later in the year,” he said to the BBC. “I was the one saying yes, and Fury actually was the one who said, ‘Let me have a little time, I’ve had a year out, let me have a warm-up.’”

Even with that possibility on the table, Wardley does not see Fury closing the distance against the leading names.

“But although it’s good to have Fury back in a boxing ring, in the current state of the heavyweight division, I can’t see how Fury becomes a world champion again. He would have to fight either Usyk or me, and do I think he can beat either of us? No,” said Wardley.

Oleksandr Usyk still holds the rest of the major belts, having already beaten Fury twice. Wardley pointed to that reality when discussing the likely route back. Without a win over one of them, Fury would need a title to become vacant to find a way in.

“If the titles get fractured and Fury fights someone like Lawrence Okolie or Agit Kabayel for a vacant belt, then yes, he can become champion,” Wardley said. “But the priority for me will always be an undisputed fight against Usyk. I want to test myself against the best in the world.”

Wardley is scheduled to defend his title against Daniel Dubois next month on May 9th, while Fury’s return against Makhmudov will indicate how much remains after another period of inactivity. The outcomes of those two fights are expected to determine whether their paths cross later this year or remain separate as the division continues to move around them.