The British fighter knocked out his rival in the first round of last weekend's clash in Saudi Arabia but says he now must take a strategic approach to his next bout as he seeks big names that will put him in world title contention.

Wardley told Sky Sports: "I've just always said, 'Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes'. But now I'm at a point where there needs to be a level of strategy coming into it as well, because obviously we know what's going to happen at the end of the year with all of the world titles and how they're going to fragment going into next year.

"So it needs to be a level of smartness going into this now about how we pick my next opponent, who they are, how they're ranked, how that fight and that win would set me up going forward, obviously hoping to get some sort of eliminator, world title shot, something along those lines.

"So yeah, it's going to be a bit more of a strategic one."

Wardley has been ranked by Ring Magazine as one of the top 10 heavyweight fighters in the world and is stunned to be "in the mix" alongside names like Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

The British and Commonwealth champion said: "It's a massive surprise! I was in quite a bit of shock and disbelief. It was kind of a surreal feeling from my beginnings from the way I have powered my way through and forced my way through in boxing.

"Now I'm in the mix but it's also quite validating with all my hard work, trials and tribulations with everything that I have gone through and had to fight my way through to get through here with boxing."