Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley will collide on October 25 at London’s O2 Arena in a showdown that could reshape the heavyweight picture.
Parker, the WBO interim titleholder, had been waiting on undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, but with talks delayed due to Usyk’s injury, the New Zealander opted to stay active. The 33-year-old hasn’t boxed since February, when he knocked out Martin Bakole in two rounds.
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Wardley, the interim WBA champion, brings momentum and heavy hands into the fight. The 30-year-old Brit scored a dramatic 10th-round knockout of Justis Huni in June after trailing on the cards, a victory that reinforced his reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous punchers.
Promoter Frank Warren praised both men for taking the risk. “Neither Joe or Fabio wanted to wait about and protect their positions and credit to them both for this,” he said. “I believe this is a genuine even-money fight with a mesh of styles that will be eye-catching and highly crowd-pleasing.”
The bout will keep both men firmly in the mix as contenders jostle for position behind Usyk.
Fight card:
▪️Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley, 12 rounds, heavyweight
▪️Denzel Bentley vs. Endry Saavedra, 12 rounds, middleweight
▪️Lewis Edmondson vs. Ezra Taylor, 12 rounds, light heavyweight
▪️Royston Barney-Smith vs. Danny Quartermaine, TBA rounds, weight TBA
