Joseph Parker Faces Fabio Wardley in Crucial Heavyweight Showdown
New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker prepares to face Fabio Wardley on Saturday, with the winner potentially securing a world title opportunity against Oleksandr Usyk, reports BritPanorama.
Parker, 33, aims to extend his career beyond this bout, openly targeting a rematch with Anthony Joshua. “I’ve been wanting a rematch with Joshua,” Parker affirmed in an interview with Sky Sports. “I want to avenge those losses.”
In 2018, Parker suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Joshua in Cardiff, relinquishing his WBO heavyweight title as Joshua became the unified champion. Since then, Parker has noted the importance of his current WBO interim championship status, describing it as “a bargaining chip” that can aid negotiations for significant upcoming bouts.
When pressed about who he regards as his most formidable opponent, Parker surprised some by naming Derek Chisora instead of Joshua. “I would say Chisora was the strongest,” Parker reflected, citing their two encounters in 2021 where he faced Chisora’s relentless style directly.
Parker’s last fight ended in a victory over Zhilei Zhang, where he claimed the interim belt despite being knocked down twice. That fight has subsequently positioned him as a mandatory challenger for Usyk’s title. However, a medical exemption granted to Usyk due to a persistent back issue has postponed any potential unification bout.
Parker commented on the uncertainty surrounding his title shot, stating: “They’re saying the winner of this fight gets Usyk next. They can say whatever they want to say, but Usyk holds the decision who he wants to fight.” Rather than wait on Usyk’s recovery, he opted to defend his interim status against Wardley, a fighter keen to carve his own path to a title opportunity.
Parker’s resurgence in the ring has been noticeable, following his 2022 loss to Joe Joyce; he is currently riding a six-fight winning streak. Notable victories include a win over former WBC champion Deontay Wilder and a stoppage against previously unbeaten Martin Bakole. “I feel like I’m getting better and better as a fighter,” Parker noted, attributing his improvements to enhanced experience and skill.
As the match against Wardley approaches, Parker faces a significant challenge, marking a crucial step in his quest to reclaim elite status in the heavyweight division.
