Lupesoliai Laaulialemalietoa Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley will clash for the interim unified heavyweight titles, live from The O2 in London today, Sunday 26 October with fight time around 10am Samoa and New Zealand time.
33-year-old former champion Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) of Auckland, New Zealand puts his interim WBO title on the line.
30-year-old Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs) of Ipswich, England brings his interim WBA belt to the ring.
The winner is expected to become the next in line to challenge Ukraine’s champion Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs).
Joseph Parker has been in a frustrating state of limbo while waiting on boxing’s governing bodies to determine whether he will get his chance to challenge Ukrainian kingpin Oleksandr Usyk for the coveted undisputed status.
Usyk holds the IBF, WBO, WBC and IBO world titles after his last definitive knockout victory over Daniel Dubois in July had improved his record to 24-0 and confirmed his pedigree as the dominant force of this generation.
Parker remains the mandatory challenger for the WBO title but Usyk has since been granted an extension in non-existent negotiations after citing a back injury.
Rather than sit idle and wait for the WBO to strip Usyk of that title because of his reluctance to fight Parker in favour of seeking a larger payday, the Kiwi has instead accepted a lucrative offer to square off against Wardley, 19-0-1 undefeated.
Parker
Joseph Parker, Age 33, Record: 36-3 (24 KOs), Height: 6 foot 4 (193cm), Reach: 193cm, Stance: Orthodox
Fabio Wardley
Age 30, Record: 19-0-1 (18 KOs), Height: 6 foot 5 (196cm), Reach: 198cm, Stance: Orthodox
Who is Fabio Wardley?
The 30-year-old Brit has an impressive professional record having yet to lose in 20 fights. Most recently he knocked out Aussie Justis Huni to claim the vacant WBA interim heavyweight title – a fight that was originally set to be against American veteran Jarrell Miller before he withdrew.
Huni was on top on the scorecard against Wardley before the Brit knocked him out in the 10th round.
“He’s one of the nicest guys you could meet in boxing – as is Joe Parker, by the way. They’re both lovely fellas,” says promoter Frank Warren said.
“But Fabio, you’ve got to take your hat off to him. No amateur background, gone out there and done it the hard way and beaten good fighters. He’s as tough as old boots. He’s a fighting man. Nothing fazes him, and he really does believe he’s going to win this fight. He believes in himself.
Parker Says: I am going to smash him
Former WBO heavyweight champion Lupesoliai Laaulialemalietoa has put his interim WBO title on the line. Parker says he is entering his prime and promised to dominate his opponent.
For me, this is all or nothing,” Parker said. “I am not really thinking about losing this fight, I am going into this fight to win. And when I win I will be going onto the next fight. I respect my opponent and what he has done in his career and how he has prepared for this fight, but I am a different level, to be honest. And I am going to show it on Saturday night.”
“I have got many miles on the clock and many more to bring. I am only getting into my prime now.”
“Credit to Wardley for taking this fight, but it is the wrong time to take this fight because I am going to smash him. He picked this fight and I said yes to every fight, so we both want this fight.”
“He believes in himself but I know I am going to win this fight. He is going to learn that it is okay to have a loss and he has got enough time to climb back.”
Wardley says: I relish the challenge
“The separation between where Joe is and where people think I am has been a common theme for me throughout my career. It is nothing new that I am hearing. Every time I step up to a new level, it is always this is a step too far until I come through and win and then it is the next step is too far.”
“I relish the challenge, I look forward to stepping up and proving people wrong, showing people that I am very much at the top level in this division.”
“I don’t know if it is positive or negative really that everyone focuses on my power, knocking opponents out. My record speaks for itself and I guess in that case it draws away from my boxing skill and ability. I think anyone with an educated brain in boxing knows that it takes more than muscles and a bit of strength to knock someone out.”
Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley fight card
- Lewis Edmondson v Ezra Taylor (Light heavyweight)
- Denzel Bentley v Endry Saavedra (Middleweight bout)
- Royston Barney-Smith v Danny Quartermaine (Super-featherweight bout)
