Fabio Wardley offers Tyson Fury title shot if he wins comeback fight
WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley has promised Tyson Fury a shot at the world title providing the former king of the division defeats Arslanbek Makhmudov in his return to the ring this April.
Wardley insists he will be "ready and waiting" to face the 36-year-old if the comeback goes according to plan.
The "Gypsy King" is scheduled to end a 17-month hiatus from the sport when he faces Russian heavyweight Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 11 April.
It marks the start of a fifth unretirement for Fury, who walked away from boxing at the start of 2025 following back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk.
Wardley looks past Dubois
Before any potential super-fight can be agreed, Wardley must defend his newly acquired belt against Daniel Dubois in Manchester on 9 May.
The Ipswich-born fighter was elevated to world champion status after undisputed king Usyk vacated the strap.
Despite the formidable challenge posed by Dubois, the unbeaten champion (20-0-1) is already eyeing a massive domestic showdown with Fury.
"I had an open invitation to him at the start of the year before he signed up for his fight with Makhmudov and before I even signed my fight with Daniel," Wardley told Sky Sports.
"I said look if you want to go straightaway we can go straightaway, it’s no bother."
"But if he wants a little warm-up and he wants to get through that and see how he feels, then cool, no bother to me. I’ll still be ready and waiting after I’m done with Daniel for a massive fight."
The road to redemption
Fury (34-2-1) has been preparing for his latest resurrection in Thailand and will enter the ring as a firm favourite.
His opponent, Canada-based Makhmudov (21-2), arrives at the contest following a gritty victory over Dave Allen in Sheffield.
While Wardley offers a clear route back to world honours, other potential avenues for Fury have closed.
A long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua had been mooted for late 2026, but those plans are now indefinitely on hold.
Joshua has paused his boxing career following a tragic car accident in Nigeria earlier this year which resulted in the loss of two close friends.
