Fabio Wardley engineered a stunning comeback to stop former world champion Joseph Parker within 11 rounds at London’s O2.
Both men hurt each other as momentum swung from Parker to Wardley and back.
But just when it looked like the fight was slipping away from Wardley, he seriously injured Parker in the 10th round. He attacked him in the 11th round, eventually forcing a stoppage.
Going into this bout with Wardley, Parker was staking his position as the mandatory challenger to the WBO world heavyweight title, one of the four major belts held by undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.
It was a gamble that backfired. Usyk will have to fight Wardley next or give up his WBO belt.
Parker is a former world champion who lost his belt to Anthony Joshua in 2018, but entered this fight in perhaps the best shape of his career.
After a heartbreaking loss to Joe Joyce in 2022, Parker also won the WBO interim strap with wins over Deontay Wilder and Ji-Ray Zhang in his last six fights before Wardley.
He was scheduled to challenge then-IBF belt holder Daniel Dubois in February, but Dubois fell ill just days before the bout was to take place.
Once-feared competitor Martin Bacall stepped in on Dubois’ behalf at the earliest possible notice, and Parker crushed Dubois within two rounds.
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Highlights of Joseph Parker’s stunning knockout victory over Martin Bacall.
The run established Parker as Usyk’s likely challenger, while unbeaten Wardley from Ipswich stepped up to world level for the first time.
However, Wardley’s reign as British champion was an exciting one. In 2023, he sent David Adely to win the Lonsdale belt. His last match at The O2 was an epic championship showdown with Fraser Clarke that ended in a draw.
Wardley then avenged his loss with a stunning first-round knockout victory in the rematch. Their last match was headlined at Portman Road Stadium in their hometown of Ipswich. Wardley struggled against Justice Huni, but found the one-punch finish he needed in the 10th round.
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Fabio Wardley shocked Fraser Clarke in the first round with a series of huge right hands, sealing the rematch in spectacular fashion.
That winning touch didn’t leave him against Parker.
Parker and Wardley began fencing for position in the first round, with Wardley feinting as Parker landed a hard jab. The New Zealander then walked up to Wardley and drove Wardley into the ropes at the end of the first round. He ended the match with a powerful right shot that hit the Englishman in the head.
He was hurting Wardley early on, which only drew a violent reaction from the Ipswich man.
In the second round, Wardley suddenly changed the course of the match with a powerful blow that shook Parker.
The former world champion suffered one injury after another and had to endure an onslaught. In fact, he only managed to find respite when the gum shield rolled off his mouth.
However, Parker found a punishing punch of his own, driving Wardley into the ropes and hitting him with a barrel attack.
Parker and Wardley fight at the O2
He was able to assert himself more and more as the rounds progressed. However, Wardley was always dangerous and always able to detonate a huge bomb on the tough New Zealander.
In the ninth round, Parker burst forward with a flurry of ferocious punches. He rocks Wardley into the ropes and shakes him. But Wardley persevered. Even when he was about to fall, he fought back.
He showed it off in 10 rounds. Parker found an opening. He hit back with his right and once again delivered a great cross. He tore Wardley apart.
But Wardley turned things around, landing an uppercut on Parker that had the crowd jumping. He huddled into Parker as the clock ticked down for the round.
Parker was seriously injured while falling across the ring and onto the ropes. But he found his feet.
However, Wardley made a stunning comeback in the 11th round. He let Parker go, unleashing one huge hook after another and pounding them with both hands.
He tied Parker up on the ropes and continued his attack with hooks.
Wardley looked tired, but there was no response from Parker, and at 1-54 in the 11th inning, referee Howard Foster stood up and stopped Parker.
“It’s like a dream.”
“It sounds like a dream, but it’s reality. It’s proof that I’m a hard worker, I’m passionate, and I never gave up,” Wardley said shortly after.
“What I lack in experience I make up for in chin, heart and fight.
“Not to take anything away from Joe, but it didn’t hurt that much! I put my foot in a weird position, but it didn’t crush me. Like I said, I’m not the cleanest fighter, but I got the job done.”
