Fabio Wardley had been awaiting news on his next fight but it looks like an opponent has been settled on for him.

The WBA have put out their latest resolution, and at heavyweight, their 'Regular' champion Kubrat Pulev (32-3, 14 KOs) has been ordered to defend against Ipswich's Wardley.

Wardley (18-0-1, 17 KOs) is currently ranked No. 1 with the WBA and is The Ring's No. 9 heavyweight. It's likely that the 30-year-old won't be fighting for world honours until the belts become splintered following a potential undisputed clash between Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) and Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21 KOs)

So 'Regular' titleholder Pulev is next in line, having beaten Mahmoud Charr for the belt back in December.

The mandatory defence period starts today, March 5, and will end on April 5. If Pulev vs Wardley is made, the winner will be ordered to fight the WBA's No. 3 contender Michael Hunter within 120 days of their fight, with a deadline of October 25, 2025 set.

Wardley hasn't fought since a first-round TKO win over Frazer Clarke on the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol 1 card back in October 2024.

Pulev has fought in several high-profile bouts before, most notably against Wladimir Klitschko in 2014, which he lost by knockout, and against Anthony Joshua in December 2020, which also ended in brutal fashion for the Bulgarian.

Rumours have swirled that Wardley's next fight could take place at Ipswich Football Club's home ground Portman Road, and Pulev could be the man he welcomes into home territory.