Fabio Wardley has been crowned WBO heavyweight champion after Oleksandr Usyk relinquished his title.
Wardley established himself as heir to the heavyweight crown by producing a shock knockout to beat Joseph Parker in October.
After that fight, Usyk was told by the WBO that he must defend against Wardley next, but he has now opted to vacate his belt.
Usyk, now 38, had previously been due to put his belt on the line and fight Parker, but withdrew from the bout with an injury. He has not fought since stopping Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in July.
Wardley has inherited Usyk’s title, following in the footsteps of Dubois, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua as British heavyweight champions.
A statement from the WBO read: "The World Boxing Organisation announced today that it has received formal communication from Team Oleksandr Usyk regarding the future of the WBO Heavyweight Championship. After thoughtful consideration, Usyk has elected to relinquish his title.
"We accept and respect his decision to relinquish the WBO Heavyweight Super Championship. This is not a farewell, but - as expressed by his team - a respectful pause. The doors of the WBO will always remain open to Oleksandr Usyk and his team."
Wardley had made no secret of his desire to go toe-to-toe with Usyk. He told Standard Sport before fighting Parker: “[I want] a knockout win against Joseph Parker on my record, then go into the New Year and look to put a fight together with Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed.
“That is the No1 goal at the moment. Get through the task ahead of me but once that’s done, it’s all eyes on Oleksandr Usyk.”
Usyk retains the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles. He has conceded a title for the second time in his career, after he dropped his IBF belt last year to hold a rematch with Fury rather than face mandatory challenger Dubois.
