WBO
18 stories covering WBO — news, results and analysis.
Hamzah Sheeraz Walks Away From WBO Title Rather Than Face Janibek
Two days after Queensberry won a $1M-plus purse bid, the unbeaten Brit (24-0-1, 19 KO) vacated instead of taking a mandatory that would've paid roughly $750K.
Sep 19, 2026
Kabayel Backs Dubois to Repeat, But Tells Wardley: Fix the Jab
WBC champ Agit Kabayel (27-0) sees Dubois winning the October 17 rematch — unless Wardley rediscovers the weapon he abandoned in May.
Sep 18, 2026
Sheeraz Wins Purse Bid War, Must Face Janibek in London or NYC
Queensberry's $1,001,809 bid trumped Top Rank's $820,000 to land Sheeraz's mandatory WBO defence — a fight he's called 'corruption' and hinted he might dodge.
Sep 16, 2026
Sheeraz Faces Purse Bids as Alimkhanuly Says 'Take It or Vacate'
A September 16 purse bid hearing looms for the unbeaten 23-0-1 WBO super-middleweight champ, with a 75/25 split waiting after talks collapsed.
Sep 14, 2026
Shakur Stevenson's Clock Is Ticking: 60 Days to Defend or Vacate
The undefeated 25-0 WBO super-lightweight champ hasn't fought since January. Now the sanctioning body wants Raymond Muratalla, 24-0, next.
Sep 11, 2026
Dubois Eyes Hrgovic Rematch — But First, Wardley Wants His Belt Back
Dubois beat Wardley off two knockdowns in May to win the WBO title. Now he's plotting past the October 17 rematch to a Hrgovic unification.
Sep 9, 2026
Wardley's Verdict on Dubois' Power Before Their October 17 Rematch
Wardley floored Dubois twice inside three rounds but lost by 11th-round stoppage. Now he says the champ's power isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Sep 5, 2026
Sheeraz Given a Week to Cut a Deal With Alimkhanuly or Vacate WBO Title
The unbeaten Brit (23-0-1, 19 KO) has until September 10 to agree terms with a fighter who failed a doping test last year — or watch the belt go to purse bid.
Sep 4, 2026
Dubois vs Wardley 2 Set for October 17 at London's O2
Fabio Wardley cashes in his rematch clause after the first loss of his 20-1-1 career. Daniel Dubois defends the WBO title he ripped away in Manchester.
Aug 29, 2026
WBO Clears Navarrete vs Foster: Three Belts, One Green Light
The WBO waived Navarrete's mandatory so he can chase a WBO/IBF/WBC unification with Foster — the winner then has 180 days to fight the mandatory.
Aug 25, 2026
Bivol vs Smith Heads to Purse Bids After Talks Collapse
The WBO has set an August 27 purse bid in Puerto Rico for Dmitry Bivol's mandatory defence against interim champ Callum Smith.
Aug 21, 2026
Hamzah Sheeraz Blasts WBO's Mandatory Order as 'Corruption'
The unbeaten WBO super-middleweight champ, 23-0-1, is fuming over an ordered defense against a fighter who tested positive for a banned substance last November.
Aug 19, 2026
WBO Orders Sheeraz vs Janibek — The Fight That Fell Apart Once Already
The WBO wants unbeaten 168lb champ Hamzah Sheeraz (23-0-1) to face Janibek Alimkhanuly. Two years ago, an almost identical order collapsed.
Aug 17, 2026
Sheeraz Handed Janibek Mandatory as WBO Orders Toughest Test Yet
The WBO has installed unbeaten former middleweight king Janibek Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KO) as mandatory for Sheeraz's 168lb belt. The clock's ticking on a deal.
Aug 14, 2026
Bivol's Clock Is Ticking: 8 Days to Cut a Deal With Callum Smith
The WBO has handed Bivol and Smith an August 20 deadline. Miss it and purse bids loom on August 27 — or the title gets vacated for Beterbiev III.
Aug 12, 2026
Dubois vs Wardley 2 Targets October 17 After Brutal First War
Frank Warren wants the WBO heavyweight rematch back at Co-op Live just five months after an 11-round brawl. Wardley (20-1-1) triggered his clause immediately.
Aug 7, 2026
Bob Arum Baffled as Keyshawn Davis Walks From $2.14m Haney Fight
Top Rank won the purse bid at $8.55m and lined up a two-weight shot at Devin Haney. Then Davis said no thanks.
Aug 7, 2026
Keyshawn Davis Walks Away From Haney Title Shot Over 25% Split
Davis turned down $3m from Top Rank, then rejected a $2.1m purse-bid share to face WBO welterweight champ Devin Haney (33-0).
Aug 1, 2026