Rumours of a 2026 Tyson Fury comeback continue to swirl, and “The Gypsy King” was very much in the spotlight at the O2 Arena in London last night. A seat was reserved for the former world champion at Queensberry Promotions’ latest show, where he watched the action alongside promoter Frank Warren.
Dressed sharply as ever, Fury observed from ringside as Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley headlined the card in a clash between two of the heavyweight division’s form fighters. Despite a clear gap in experience, Wardley produced a career-best performance, stopping Parker in the 11th round to claim victory by TKO.
However, referee Howard Foster came under fire for what many fans and pundits viewed as a premature stoppage. Scorecards revealed afterward that Parker was leading on two judges’ cards, with the third even. Had he survived the round, the former WBO champion would have secured a majority decision win and positioned himself for a potential title shot against undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk. Instead, it is Wardley—now the WBO Interim titleholder—who may get the opportunity to face Usyk in 2026.
Fury, a long-time friend and training partner of Parker, spent time with the New Zealander in his dressing room before the fight. The morning after the bout, Fury shared his thoughts on Instagram.
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“The fight was amazing—both fighters had a lot of success,” Fury said. “I had Joe up four rounds going into the 11th. But it’s heavyweight boxing—you can’t go swimming without getting wet. The referee jumped in after a few unanswered shots, and that’s what it takes sometimes. It’s just one of those things.”
“Joseph Parker will come back stronger—I know that. Commiserations to my brother and the team. Everyone did a fantastic job. Everyone went home safe, and that’s what really matters.”
