Dubois vs Wardley 2: Promoter Frank Warren paints heavyweight unification picture for 2027

Promoter Frank Warren wants to stage heavyweight world-title unification fights in 2027 and hopes to bring former undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk back into the mix.

The division's four major titles are now held by different champions, with Warren promoting three of them, including Daniel Dubois, who defends his WBO belt against Fabio Wardley in London on Saturday.

"The plan is to make the unification fights happen and try to get Usyk back in it," Warren told the 5 Live Boxing podcast.

"No-one can say we're keeping guys apart."

Dubois and Wardley meet at the O2 Arena, five months after Dubois recovered from two early knockdowns to stop his British rival in the 11th round of a thrilling encounter in Manchester.

Warren, who also promotes WBC champion Agit Kabayel and IBF title-holder Filip Hrgovic, believes Saturday's winner will be in a strong position to pursue further world titles.

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The Queensberry Promotions boss also said the WBA 'super' heavyweight championship will be at stake when Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua meet in Cardiff on 11 December.

"The WBA have put that belt up for them," Warren said. However, the sanctioning body has yet to publicly confirm the arrangement, with Russia's Murat Gassiev still listed as its sole heavyweight world champion.

Gassiev could be relegated to 'regular' champion status if the WBA awards its primary 'super' title to the winner of Fury-Joshua.

Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era when he beat Fury in May 2024.

The Ukrainian - who narrowly escaped a scare against boxing novice Rico Verhoeven in May - has since vacated his world titles, leaving the heavyweight division open to a new generation of champions.

Itauma to return in January after first defeat

Warren also confirmed British heavyweight Moses Itauma will return to the ring in January as he looks to rebuild his career and challenge for a world title in 2027.

The 21-year-old suffered his first professional defeat in August when he was stopped in the ninth round by Croatia's Hrgovic, who claimed the vacant IBF heavyweight title.

Itauma had dominated the early rounds before tiring and being overwhelmed by his more experienced opponent.

"He's fighting in January. We'll be announcing his fight in the next couple of weeks," Warren said.

"We had a constructive meeting a couple of weeks ago. We let the dust settle, talked about what happened against Hrgovic."

The Chatham fighter, who has won 14 of his 15 professional bouts, with 12 victories by knockout, had been fast-tracked towards a world-title shot after a string of destructive performances.

Long touted as a future star of the division, Itauma now faces a rebuilding process following his first setback.

"Moses comes back and has a fight and wants to be in the mix," Warren added.

"He's only 21 and he wants 2027 to be the year he wins a world title."