Fabio Wardley stops Joseph Parker to claim interim title

British heavyweight contender Fabio Wardley capped a dramatic rise by knocking out former WBO champion Joseph Parker on 25 October at London’s O2 Arena.  Wardley, who began his career on small‑hall shows and once served as a sparring partner for Dillian Whyte, entered as an underdog against Parker.  In a thrilling back‑and‑forth fight he repeatedly hurt the New Zealander with right hands.  In round 11 Wardley unleashed a barrage that sent Parker staggering to the ropes, prompting referee Howard Foster to halt the bout.  The stoppage earned Wardley the WBO interim heavyweight title and a potential mandatory position for Oleksandr Usyk.

ESPN’s coverage noted that Wardley collapsed with exhaustion after the stoppage and later called out Usyk for a title shot.  The fight featured momentum swings, with Parker rocking Wardley early before the Ipswich native roared back.  Wardley’s victory underscored the depth of Britain’s heavyweight scene and propelled him into the world‑title conversation.  For Parker, it was a crushing setback after he had rebuilt his career with wins over Deontay Wilder and Joe Joyce.