Heavyweight clash promises great intrigue as the experienced Parker aims to keep up a hot streak of six wins against the British former white-collar boxer
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oxing is in a real slump this year, with few major fights and far less compelling bouts than usual, and so the prospect of a serious and intriguing heavyweight contest between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena brings a measure of relief to the beleaguered business. The winner will almost certainly face Oleksandr Usyk, the world champion, next year. In contrast, the loser is likely to lament the inevitable erosion of the hard-won plaudits he had gained.
Danger and risk surround this clash. Parker is on a hot streak since his last defeat, to Joe Joyce, three years ago. The New Zealand veteran, who won the WBO world title in 2016, has been rejuvenated by his switch of trainers to the inspirational Andy Lee. He has won six fights in a row, earning particular acclaim for the poised way in which he crushed Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole.
Wardley has steadily built his unbeaten record over 20 bouts, while displaying astonishing power against Frazer Clarke in a rematch last year and, this summer, when he knocked out Justin Huni with one chilling punch. But Clarke took Wardley to hell and back when their brutal first fight ended in a draw – and Huni had an unassailable lead on all three scorecards before he was pole-axed in the 10th round.
