🔗 Share this article Great Britain's Wardley Stops Parker in Massive Heavyweight Surprise Fabio Wardley preserved his undefeated record, advancing to 20 successful bouts and one draw Published: 26 October 2025 Comments: 106 Fabio Wardley secured a massive upset to shatter Joseph Parker's hopes of earning a two-time world heavyweight champion on Saturday and positioned himself in position for a opportunity at perfect champion Oleksandr Usyk. Stunning Comeback Victory The UK fighter is now the number one challenger for the Ukrainian after he earned a remarkable comeback victory by stopping the seasoned New Zealander in the eleventh round of an thrilling and tough battle at London's O2 Arena. Wardley, 30, won the WBO 'interim' title when he compelled referee Howard Foster to halt the bout as he attacked previous world champion Parker, who had been significantly damaged in the 10th by a right-handed uppercut. Powerful Celebration The Ipswich native raised the crowd to their feet and dropped to the floor in jubilation as his support crew flooded into the ring to mark the victory. They were excellent scenes as the ex white-collar boxer extended his outstanding rise in the boxing world. Questioned Stoppage There was an argument that the intervention was premature, especially given Parker had controlled for extended periods of the fight and injured Wardley repeatedly with right hands. But the 33-year-old New Zealander provided little argument when Foster intervened and his trainer Andy Lee did not appear to object as his man endured his fourth pro defeat. Wardley's Post-Fight Comments "I declared all the way through this lead-up that we picked Joseph Parker because I feel I'm at the top and I proved I'm at the top," commented Wardley. "All praise to Joseph, he can't get enough admiration and he deserves all the admiration from the boxing world. He undertook a chance when he didn't have to, and we knew he wasn't going anywhere quickly. We had to choose our spots and eventually we got them out of there." Decisive Round It was a right-handed uppercut from Wardley in the 10th round which shifted the bout firmly back in benefit of the longshot. This was Wardley's 20th career win and his most significant. Usyk now potentially awaits early next year. Parker risked his position as the number one contender for Usyk's championship by taking this fight, falling to his fourth professional defeat. Promoter's Assured Outlook Wardley's promoter Frank Warren informed DAZN: "Usyk stated he wants to do it, so that's what it will be. It's a thirty-six minute fight and it only takes one second from him." Wardley's Extraordinary Journey Advances Wardley watched Parker's world title fight against Anthony Joshua in 2018 from a public house It was a elite group of the British heavyweight scene 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 proceeded to the ring dressed in Ipswich Town colors with the football club's crest emblazoned on his kit. Significant Career Progression He spoke in the lead-up how it was remarkable that when Parker was claiming the WBO heavyweight title in 2016, he was only competing in white-collar boxing. Yet here he was on the same stage as the seasoned Kiwi in a fight to establish the next challenger for Usyk, the best heavyweight of this generation. Fight Description With Lee in his corner, Parker was on a winning run coming into this bout of six victories including wins over the likes of Zhilei Zhang, Deontay Wilder and Martin Bakole. As cries of 'Oh Fabio Wardley' echoed around the arena, Parker established control with a ramrod of a jab that soon produced blood from the bridge of the Ipswich fighter's nose. The finish to the first three minutes was emphatic from the expected winner as Parker powered through with a strong of a right hand. Thrilling Momentum Shift Parker's control evaporated when a right hand from Wardley rocked him in the second. It would be a harbinger to what would follow later in the fight. It was a perfect shot and raised those ringside to their feet as the New Zealander looked unsteady on his. The expertise of Parker, in his 40th career fight, looked like it was going to be vital here. Wardley was always risky, but Parker was connecting the better shots through the middle rounds. Final 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 appeared to be fizzling out in the eighth before it erupted back into life and swung clearly back in Wardley's favour in the 10th. He guaranteed his stunning story would get another chapter against Usyk when he swarmed Parker in the 11th with a volley of shots which forced Foster to intervene. It may have been premature but Wardley will contend that Parker was taking significant punishment. Usyk Showdown - What Next for Wardley? Wardley has 19 stoppages in 20 wins, boasting a 95% stoppage rate Usyk applied for a medical dispensation to defer his mandatory defence of the WBO title because of a back injury, but his representative Serge Lapin recently affirmed that the perfect champion was ready to face the victor of this bout. Warren will now look to arrange that fight next year for his man. Rapid Ascent to the Top With just twenty-one career fights on the back of without amateur background having come from the white-collar scene, Wardley is still unpolished and his rise to this level has been significantly sped up. But now he is in a position to take on the best heavyweight of this period which is a dramatic tale. Parker's Future Thoughts Parker will now have to deliberately evaluate his next step, given his age and how long he has been competing at the elite level. He accepted a huge chance here and his prospects of regaining a piece of the world heavyweight crown have been diminished.