FABIO Wardley could face the winner of Kubrat Pulev and Michael Hunter’s expected WBA ‘regular’ title showdown, says trainer Ben Davison.
Last night’s stunning spectacle saw Wardley, 19-0-1 (18 KOs), claim the WBA ‘interim’ strap, further enhancing his flourishing heavyweight career with a monstrous tenth-round finish over Justis Huni.
The devastating knockout arrived after the 30-year-old found himself trailing behind on the judges’ scorecards, with the technical prowess of Huni, 12-1 (7 KOs), proving more effective than most had anticipated.
And yet, in typically thrilling fashion, Wardley pulled a right hand from his back pocket and sent it ripping through the air, fast enough to generate a faint whistling sound at Portman Road, the home of his beloved Ipswich Town Football Club.
No sooner had the punch found its target than Huni was sent crashing to the canvas, moments before attempting to beat referee John Latham’s count.
But of course, it was Wardley who ultimately came away with a remarkable stoppage victory, firmly placing himself in the mix for a world title shot.
His next assignment, however, could be for far a less desirable strap, with Davison highlighting the black and gold ‘regular’ title as a potential prize.
It emerged towards the end of last month that notorious promoter Don King had won the purse bid for a clash between Pulev and Hunter.
And while there is no guarantee that the showdown – with Pulev’s WBA trinket on the line – will go ahead, it has nonetheless been slated for August 23.
According to Davison, the winner could represent a viable option for Wardley, as while he awaits a shot at the full world title, the Ipswich man will seemingly look to stay active in the meantime.
“[Wardley’s victory over Huni] was for the WBA interim [title],” Davison told talkSPORT. “I’m hearing Pulev and Michael Hunter might be getting a fight on, maybe [Wardley could face] the winner.
“We don’t know how these belts might fragment, so we’ll see. If there’s titles, that needs to be his priority.”
Former world title challenger Pulev was a mooted opponent for Wardley prior to his victory over Huni, yet whether the 44-year-old remains up for the challenge remains to be seen.
