Fabio Wardley’s 24k gold TKO of Parker

Fabio Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) says he is ready to challenge Oleksander Usyk next for his four heavyweight titles, following his 11th round TKO of Joseph Parker (36-4, 24 KOs) on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London.

(Credit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)

Wardley’s 24k gold breakthrough

Wardley came into the fight with the WBA interim heavyweight title against WBO interim champion Parker. There were moments in rounds 1, 9 and 10 where Wardley looked like he might not break through. His punch resistance saved him, his fighting spirit and the way he would energize when Parker briefly put him in trouble.

That’s what turned the fight around for Wardley in the 10th round. He was hurt after taking many shots from a flurry of punches from Parker. He came back late in the round to stun Parker. In the 11th, Wardley landed a crushing right to the head of Parker, sending him back against the ropes.

Referee’s Stop sparks Parker’s anger

After a strange back-and-forth exchange, Parker fell back against the ropes. Inexplicably, referee Howard Foster stepped in and stopped the fight. An angry-looking Parker shoved Foster in response, letting him know he shouldn’t have stopped the fight. The time of the interruption was at 1:54.

It looked like Wardley would have finished Parker anyway. Wardley had that killer instinct, and it would have required him to gas out for Parker to survive. It didn’t look like it was going to happen. Wardley would have beaten him non-stop without the referee waving it off.

“I wasn’t hurt. I wasn’t buzzed. You saw me coming into the second round,” Fabio Wardley said at the post-fight press conference after his victory over Joseph Parker. “It was nothing earth-shattering. It was nothing amazing. It didn’t surprise me at all,” Wardley said when asked about Parker’s power.

Wardley looked dazed late in the first round after being clipped by a hard right hand from Parker. But he came back well in the second round, hurting Parker and hitting him with a flurry of shots. It was a miracle that the New Zealander made it out of the round.

Usyk Now in Wardley’s Crosshairs

“It was the goal and everything I wanted,” Wardley said of his thoughts on becoming mandatory for Oleksandr Usyk. “There is nothing more I can ask for in this sport. When that bell rings, when Usyk and I finally get in the ring, he will have to work for it.”

Eight-year grind to glory

It didn’t take Wardley too many years to lock himself in for a fight against Usyk. An eight-year pro, Fabio didn’t start facing significant opposition until 2022. Since then, he’s moved quickly, beating Parker, Frazer Clarke, Justis Huni, David Adeleye, Michael Polite Coffie and Nathan Gorman.

What was surprising tonight was that Parker gave Wardley less trouble than his previous opponent, Justis Huni, did last June. Wardley’s situation was desperate against Huni as he was boxed out for nine rounds before coming back to score a knockout in the tenth round. Tonight. It was a closer battle, with Parker holding the scores 98-92, 96-94 and 95-95 going into round 11.

“I’d like to do it overseas. Bring his belts, let’s get them on,” Wardley said of Usyk.

Riyadh season awaits the showdown

If Turki Alalshikh is involved, he will likely play the Usyk vs. Wants to stage Wardley fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Assuming he does finance the fight, as he did the two Usyk vs. Tyson Fury clashes and the Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois rematch, putting the bout in Riyadh would seem like an obvious destination.

For the fans, they just want to see Wardley and Usyk fight, wherever. This is going to be a very different kind of fight for Oleksandr than the ones he has had so far in the heavyweight division. As we saw tonight, Wardley is a combination puncher, and he doesn’t let up. He applies constant pressure, and you either try to match him or you get taken out.

It will be interesting to see what strategy Usyk uses to neutralize Wardley’s offense, as he won’t be able to do so by meeting fire with fire. He does not possess that type of power. Additionally, Wardley’s hand speed is too good, and he thrives on combo punches.