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Oleksandr Usyk gave up one of his world titles to allow younger boxers the chance to fight for it, his camp manager has claimed.
The undefeated Ukrainian, 38, held all four heavyweight belts but vacated the WBO title last week, with Fabio Wardley, 30, promoted to the position of full-time champion.
Usyk became the undisputed champion of the heavyweight division when he beat Tyson Fury in May 2024 and again in July this year after demolishing Daniel Dubois.
He was due to face Ipswich-born Wardley, who dramatically won the interim title against Joseph Parker last month, but informed the WBO of his decision to drop the belt.
It meant Wardley, who labelled the Ukrainian's decision to relinquish the title instead of fighting him as 'strange', was automatically upgraded to the title holder - and will defend it for the first time next year.
And according to Sergey Lapin, Usyk wants to see Wardley battle it out with another British boxer.
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk surprisingly relinquished the WBO heavyweight title last week
Ipswich-born Fabio Wardley became the title holder by proxy after Usyk gave up the belt
'Oleksandr vacated the belt to give young boxers a chance to fight for it,' Usyk's long-term friend and camp manager said.
'Let's see how everything develops from here. Fabio Wardley vs. Moses Itauma would be a wonderful fight for both, and it would be very interesting to see who comes out on top.'
Wardley, who is the sixth Briton to hold the WBO heavyweight belt, has also been linked with a potential fight against Anthony Joshua next year and has not closed the door on it when asked.
'I'm open to all opportunities, all comers, all fighters,' he told Sky Sports.
'One thing I've always had through my career is the mantra of never shying away or backing down, always taking on the biggest next fight, and if that would be him [Joshua] then it would be a pleasure to do so.'
Like Usyk, 6ft 5in Wardley remains undefeated and has 20 wins from 21 bouts. His one split-decision draw came against Frazer Clarke in March 2024, who he beat in one round seven months later.
Had Wardley fought Usyk, the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight belts would have been on the line. But the Ukranian is fighting once a year on average and his future is unclear after the win over Dubois at Wembley in July.
