Fabio Wardley pulled out yet another sensational win this weekend, this time against Joseph Parker in London.
Wardley has no amateur experience and a few white collar fights, but continues to ascend through the pro ranks with stoppage after stoppage.
At the O2 Arena, the Ipswich man engaged in a thrilling war with Parker, with both men trading their biggest shots until Wardley wobbled the New Zealander significantly in the eleventh.
The non-stop flurry that followed was enough for referee Howard Foster to step in and stop Parker on his feet to hand Wardley an impressive win over a former world champion. Parker, meanwhile, has criticised the Foster’s stoppage and claimed he was fine to fight on.
Speaking to Fight Hub, Wardley was asked if he was hurt by Parker at any stage throughout the contest.
“No, I wasn’t [hurt]. And I’m not saying that to take away from Joe, because it’s not that he’s a soft puncher at all. I just wasn’t hurt. I got caught being lazy. I got caught wrong-footed; I overcommitted with some shots. And just got caught fooling around a bit.
“But I wasn’t hurt. I wasn’t buzzed. You saw the way I came into it in the second round. It didn’t change anything.”
Immediately after the fight, Wardley, who is now the WBO mandatory, said he was ready to take on the two-time undisputed heavyweight ruler Oleksandr Usyk and his promoter Frank Warren is keen to make that fight in the first part of 2026. With the WBO ordering it to take place, the fight must either happen or, should the Ukrainian choose to vacate, Wardley will be upgraded to full champion.
Parker has confirmed he will fight on, though calls for a rematch are likely to go unanswered at this stage.
