Warren’s vision for 2027 is predicated on these champions eventually facing one another to crown a single, undisputed leader. While the immediate future involves mandatory defenses and high-profile individual matchups, the long-term goal remains a simplified championship structure. By positioning his fighters at the top of the WBC, IBF, and WBO rankings, Warren has effectively created an internal tournament that could culminate in a historic unification series within the next three years.
The Usyk Factor and the Ghost of Undisputed
A significant component of Warren’s strategy involves the return of Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian maestro etched his name into the history books in May 2024 when he defeated Tyson Fury to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era. Usyk’s technical brilliance and ability to solve the puzzles presented by much larger men have made him the definitive benchmark for greatness in the modern era.
However, Usyk’s path since that historic night has been unconventional. Shortly after the Fury victory, he vacated his titles, effectively resetting the division. He also participated in a crossover bout against boxing novice and kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven in May. Despite the disparity in boxing experience, Usyk reportedly navigated several difficult moments against Verhoeven before securing the win, a "scare" that served as a reminder of the inherent risks in the heavyweight ranks.
Warren is eager to see Usyk return to the competitive mix, viewing the Ukrainian as the ultimate prize for his stable of young champions. A potential clash between a matured Daniel Dubois or a resurgent Filip Hrgovic and Usyk would represent a passing of the torch—or a final confirmation of Usyk’s legendary status.
The Cardiff Mega-Fight and the WBA Title Puzzle
While the Dubois-Wardley rematch occupies the immediate foreground, the boxing world is also looking ahead to the massive domestic showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, scheduled for December 11 in Cardiff. Although neither man currently holds a major world title, the fight remains the biggest commercial draw in the sport.
According to Warren, the stakes for the Cardiff bout have been raised even further. The Queensberry boss claimed that the WBA ‘super’ heavyweight championship will be on the line when the two British icons finally meet. "The WBA have put that belt up for them," Warren stated, suggesting that the winner will immediately catapult back into the world-title picture.
However, this announcement comes with a degree of administrative complexity. As of now, the World Boxing Association (WBA) has not publicly confirmed this arrangement. Their official rankings still list Russia’s Murat Gassiev as the sole heavyweight world champion. If the WBA does indeed sanction Fury vs. Joshua for the ‘super’ title, it would likely mean a restructuring of their belts. Gassiev could potentially be relegated to ‘regular’ champion status, a move often used by sanctioning bodies to facilitate high-profile "super" fights while maintaining a secondary titleholder. This political maneuvering is a hallmark of the sport, but for the fans, the addition of a world title only adds to the prestige of the Fury-Joshua encounter.
