Fabio Wardley has criticised the prospect of Oleksandr Usyk facing elite kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, calling the potential matchup 'not a real, genuine challenge.' The British heavyweight, who recently claimed the WBO title after Usyk vacated the belt, expressed disappointment that the Ukrainian champion opted for a crossover bout rather than defending against him.

Wardley, who's targeting fights with Usyk and Tyson Fury after his May 9 bout with Daniel Dubois, understands Usyk's position but questions the legitimacy of facing a kickboxing specialist. 'Usyk has earned the point where he's able to do what he wants,' Wardley acknowledged, suggesting the Ukrainian might be seeking an 'easy fight' at this stage of his career.

While crossover bouts aren't unprecedented - Fury's 10-round fight against Francis Ngannou being a recent example - Wardley believes Usyk should face him instead. The Watford heavyweight remains hopeful about a future showdown with Usyk, stating he'll continue to put himself in 'good fights' and deliver strong performances in hopes of eventually securing the matchup.