GB's Wardley Halts Parker in Major Heavyweight Shock

Fabio Wardley secured a huge upset to destroy Joseph Parker's aspirations of becoming a double world heavyweight champion on Saturday and positioned himself in contention for a opportunity at unbeaten champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Impressive Comeback Victory

The UK fighter is now the top contender for the Ukrainian after he claimed a stunning comeback victory by halting the veteran New Zealander in the 11th round of an entertaining and physical battle at London's O2 Arena.

Wardley, 30, won the WBO 'interim' title when he pressured referee Howard Foster to halt the bout as he overwhelmed ex world champion Parker, who had been seriously injured in the 10th by a straight uppercut.

Emotional Celebration

The Ipswich native got the crowd to their feet and collapsed to the floor in triumph as his support crew piled into the ring to mark the victory.

They were superb scenes as the former white-collar boxer continued his outstanding rise in the pro circuit.

Questioned Stoppage

There was an debate that the halt was early, especially given Parker had dominated for large parts of the fight and injured Wardley repeatedly with straight rights.

But the 33-year-old New Zealander provided little objection when Foster stepped in and his trainer Andy Lee did not seem to remonstrate as his man suffered his fourth career defeat.

Wardley's After-Match Comments

"I stated all the way through this build-up that we selected Joseph Parker because I feel I'm at the top and I demonstrated I'm at the top," said Wardley.

"All credit to Joseph, he can't get enough respect and he merits all the admiration from the boxing fraternity. He undertook a chance when he didn't have to, and we knew he wasn't going anywhere quickly. We had to select our spots and finally we got them out of there."

Critical Moment

It was a right-handed uppercut from Wardley in the 10th round which shifted the bout decisively back in benefit of the underdog.

This was Wardley's twentieth professional win and his most significant. Usyk now possibly awaits early next year.

Parker endangered his ranking as the number one contender for Usyk's championship by undertaking this fight, dropping to his fourth career defeat.

Promoter's Confident Outlook

Wardley's promoter Frank Warren stated to DAZN: "Usyk said he wants to do it, so that's what it will be. It's a thirty-six minute fight and it only needs one second from him."

Wardley's Extraordinary Journey Advances

It was a who's who of the British heavyweight division in the arena with Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois, Moses Itauma, Derek Chisora and Dillian Whyte among the onlookers.

Usyk was not here, but he was the man this bout was all for.

Wardley walked to the ring decked out in Ipswich Town hues with the football club's badge displayed on his kit.

Impressive Career Progression

He spoke in the build-up how it was remarkable that when Parker was winning the WBO heavyweight title in 2016, he was only participating in white-collar boxing.

Yet here he was on the identical platform as the experienced Kiwi in a fight to determine the next challenger for Usyk, the greatest heavyweight of this generation.

Fight Description

With Lee in his corner, Parker was on a red-hot run coming into this bout of six successful fights including wins over the likes of Zhilei Zhang, Deontay Wilder and Martin Bakole.

As chants of 'Oh Fabio Wardley' rang around the arena, Parker secured control with a powerful of a jab that soon caused blood from the bridge of the Ipswich fighter's nose.

The end to the first three minutes was emphatic from the favourite as Parker stormed through with a strong of a right hand.

Exciting Momentum Shift

Parker's control vanished when a right hand from Wardley shook him in the second.

It would be a precursor to what would follow later in the fight. It was a perfect shot and brought those ringside to their feet as the New Zealander looked unsteady on his.

The experience of Parker, in his 40th career fight, looked like it was going to be critical here. Wardley was always threatening, but Parker was connecting the better shots through the central rounds.

Closing Rounds and Victory

The Kiwi's left uppercuts to the body and right hands over the top were a specific strength, but Wardley's own backhand remained a threat.

The fight seemed to be waning in the eighth before it erupted back into life and swung decisively back in Wardley's favor in the 10th.

He made sure his stunning story would get another chapter against Usyk when he attacked Parker in the 11th with a barrage of shots which forced Foster to step in.

It may have been premature but Wardley will claim that Parker was taking significant punishment.

Usyk Showdown - What Next for Wardley?

Usyk sought a medical exception to postpone his required defence of the WBO title because of a back injury, but his consultant Serge Lapin recently affirmed that the perfect champion was set to face the winner of this bout.

Warren will now look to organize that fight next year for his man.

Rapid Ascent to the Top

With just twenty-one career fights on the back of no amateur background having come from the white-collar scene, Wardley is still raw and his rise to this standing has been considerably accelerated.

But now he is in a place to take on the finest heavyweight of this era which is a dramatic tale.

Parker's Future Options

Parker will now have to carefully consider his next step, given his age and how long he has been participating at the elite level.

He took a significant risk here and his prospects of winning back a share of the world heavyweight crown have been reduced.