The Barista, 30, became the mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk’s, 38, WBO heavyweight belt after defeating Joseph Parker, 33, last month, but the WBO president Gustavo Olivieri has now revealed Wardley might first have to overcome The Wrecking Ball, 20, if The Cat has a “justifiable reason” to delay his mandatory title defence.

Speaking with The Ring, Olivieri said: “The committee reserves the right to enforce a mandatory on the interim champion.

“If Usyk is not available for any justified reason, we would enforce a mandatory.”

Wardley’s promoter Frank Warren recently said they had entered talks with Usyk’s side for the fight, and were looking at either London or Riyadh for March 2026.

The Queensbury promoter said: “The fight [between Usyk and Wardley] has been ordered, so there will be a period of negotiations now.

“And if we can’t reach an agreement, then it will go out for purse bids. I believe we will reach an agreement.

“The fight won’t be until next year, of course. I think it will be sometime in March.

“I’d love it to be in the UK, but there are only two places for this fight, and that’s either in Riyadh or here in London, that’s it. I’d do it at Wembley Stadium and it would be a sell-out.

“You know what you’re getting with Usyk, and you know what you’re getting with Fabio; it’s going to be exciting.”

Warren admitted Usyk’s team were not “over excited” about the undisputed heavyweight champion fighting The Barista, but noted The Cat would have to vacate his WBO title if he chose not to face Wardley.

He told talkSPORT: “The WBO had ordered that. So, it’s up to [Usyk]. He either fights him or relinquishes the belt, or he gets stripped.

“I hope he doesn’t do that because I feel this fight would fill Wembley [Stadium] up. We had a good turnout on Saturday [for Parker vs. Wardley]. This is now a fight.”

Warren emphasized Wardley “deserves his shot at Usyk”.

The promoter said of The Barista: “He has the power. He’s shown that in 19 of 20 fights. He comes from behind and does it.”