Joseph Parker has dismissed any discussions about facing Oleksandr Usyk at the moment and has committed to defeating Fabio Wardley in their upcoming heavyweight bout. The 33-year-old New Zealand boxer is set to make his much-anticipated comeback in the ring against the formidable Wardley on Saturday night. It has been a challenging year for Parker, who was initially scheduled to fight Daniel Dubois for the British boxer’s world title in February, but Dubois withdrew from the match just 48 hours before it was due to take place.
Following an impressive knockout victory over Martin Bakole on short notice, Parker appeared poised to square off against Usyk, only for the Ukrainian to opt for a showdown with Dubois instead. Usyk went on to secure a dominant knockout triumph over Dubois in front of a massive crowd at Wembley Stadium. Despite being ordered to defend his titles against Parker, Usyk requested a delay citing an injury, although videos surfaced showing him at a concert. After an investigation, Usyk was granted an extension but is mandated to face the winner of the upcoming bout between Parker and Wardley.
In the lead-up to the highly-anticipated match at the O2 in London, Parker emphasized the significance of the fight, stating that it is a do-or-die situation for him. On the other hand, Wardley expressed confidence and issued a chilling warning to his undefeated opponent. Wardley, who has not been in action since his remarkable come-from-behind victory over Justis Huni in June, believes there is more to his skill set than just knockout power, highlighting his boxing acumen.
With both fighters gearing up for their clash on October 25 at the O2 Arena, the stakes are high. Parker remains focused on the task at hand and is not looking past Wardley, while promoter Frank Warren confirmed that the winner of the fight will earn a shot at Usyk for the WBO belt and the other championship titles. The event will be broadcast live on DAZN for a fee of £24.99, with the winner of the Parker vs. Wardley showdown earning the coveted opportunity to face the two-division undisputed champion early next year.