Fury’s wording suggested he was weighing his options moderately than promoting a fight.
On paper, Wardley presents a difficult task for a 37 yr old heavyweight coming off a protracted absence and a loss to Oleksandr Usyk. In practical terms, the matchup presents much more problems.
Wardley just isn’t a fading titleholder waiting to be managed. He’s a high volume combination puncher with power, stamina, and a willingness to force exchanges. He works at a gentle pace and keeps his hands going. He doesn’t depend on opponents giving him time to settle.
Those traits tend to offer problems to fighters who need time and control to administer rounds.
At his best, Fury controlled fights by slowing them down, leaning, holding, and refusing to let opponents construct any rhythm. That style relied on sharp timing, regular activity, and luxury under pressure. None of that may be taken without any consideration against a fighter like Wardley.
Fury has not fought since December 2024. His return is anticipated to come back against a lower level opponent, which is standard after a protracted layoff. What stands out is the concept that a second fight later within the yr could involve a reigning champion whose style is built around sustained pressure.
Wardley became WBO champion after upsetting Joseph Parker and was elevated when Usyk vacated the title. Nonetheless the belt is ranked, the physical demand of fighting him is obvious. Fury acknowledged that himself, calling Wardley a tough fight and noting that he has his own business to handle.
The warning signs are already there in Wardley’s recent work. What he did to Joseph Parker showed how dangerous his approach may be once a fight turns physical. Parker was badly hurt early, to the purpose where the fight might have been stopped inside two rounds. Wardley stayed on him, throwing mixtures without pause and forcing Parker to survive moderately than settle. There was one other moment later within the fight where Parker was again in trouble, just for the referee to step in and break the motion.
That fight matters because Parker can punch, and Fury cannot. Wardley walked through Parker’s power shots and continued to use pressure without hesitation. He didn’t wait. He stayed in front of Parker and kept throwing. Against Fury, that dynamic shifts even further. Wardley wouldn’t have to worry about return fire in the identical way. He could keep his hands going, push Fury backward, and force exchanges without paying much of a price.
Fury’s usual tools offer limited protection here. The leaning, wrestling, and short punches that after slowed opponents have already shown signs of abrasion. They didn’t work against Francis Ngannou, who outmuscled Fury and met him with short shots of his own. Fury survived that night, however the control was gone. Against a younger heavyweight who throws in volume and doesn’t stop coming, those habits grow to be harder to depend on.
Fury spoke about assessing himself after a return fight before committing to Wardley later within the yr. One fight rarely restores timing, conditioning, and sharpness all of sudden, and people limits can show quickly against an opponent who applies pressure from the opening round.
Wardley is being discussed because he suits what Fury believes he can still tackle.
If Fury moves on this direction, it’ll show how he now views himself as a fighter. It’s going to also put pressure on whether confidence could make up for age, inactivity, and a difficult style matchup. For once, Fury appears like someone talking himself toward danger.