Fabio Wardley reinforced his status as a rising heavyweight star with a breathtaking 11th-round stoppage of Joseph Parker at the O2 Arena, London. The victory, Wardley’s 20th win (19 by KO), positions him — at least in theory — as the next in line for Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion.
The bout ignited almost immediately. Parker, the WBO interim champion, started strong, landing heavy shots that briefly rocked Wardley in the opening round. But Wardley, true to form, responded with a crushing right hand, flipping momentum and putting the New Zealander on shaky legs.
Parker regrouped in round three, but Wardley’s relentless assault — particularly his signature backhand — kept the fight fiercely competitive. Both fighters traded heavy blows in the middle rounds, with Parker controlling some moments, notably the fifth round, yet Wardley repeatedly answered with punishing right hands.
By rounds seven and eight, both heavyweights were visibly fatigued, yet Wardley’s resilience and precision continued to shine. In round 10, he almost sent Parker to the canvas, setting the stage for the dramatic conclusion. At 1:54 of the 11th round, referee Howard Foster halted the contest, crowning Wardley the clear victor.
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Afterwards, Wardley expressed his ambition to challenge Usyk, who holds all four major heavyweight titles. If it happens, it would be a remarkable story: the former white-collar fighter facing one of boxing’s most dominant champions.
