How a new Fabio Wardley produced a stunning knockout to secure unbelievable Oleksandr Usyk fight
Fabio Wardley collapsed in delight after a gruelling and, at times, messy fight that was punctuated with the most thrilling of knockouts. It dispatched finally Joseph Parker in the 11th round to set up a meeting with heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk. A fight that would never have been conceivable years ago, after Wardley emerged from the white collar scene, only for Dillian Whyte to display vision and pluck him from obscurity. The stoppage will provoke debates and it is rather unfortunate that the referee was Howard Foster, sparking memories of that controversial first meeting between Carl Froch and George Groves. For now, Wardley won’t care, with this gripping eliminator unfolding after years of Usyk solidifying himself as an untouchable force that has presided over the division. But Parker v Wardley is one of a number of fights beneath him, gradually shifting the tides of a confusing pecking order, with a litany of contenders and hopefuls. Now though, the Ipswich man, the WBO interim world heavyweight champion and still undefeated, defied the repeated onslaughts from a polished Parker to inflict a thudding stoppage just as the 12th round drew near. This absorbing contest, which had Parker up by six rounds on one card, two on another, with the third having it level entering the 11th round, saw both fighters unload a barrage of shots at the slightest oppportunity. But it would be shortsighted to discard this heavyweight scrap as merely a brawl, with Parker’s skills often framing the more brutal shots. Wardley, too, showcased a new side. The jabs, from a low, languid stance, surprising the Kiwi with their trajectory, and the slashing shots to the body offered wrinkles to this violent chess match. “We knew he was tough, I knew he was hurt, but he wouldn’t go early, we picked our spots and eventually got him out of there,” Wardley said. “I told everyone I wouldn’t lose today and I did what I said I’d do. It hasn’t sunk in yet, everyone talks about my story. “Everyone said I wouldn’t go anywhere, I’d be still lost on small halls without Whyte, he picked me out of the rough and changed my life.” In Wardley’s way tonight was Parker, whose admirable recent run has seen him comprehensively pick apart Deontay Wilder, at a point when the American was still a terrifying prospect. But with Halloween approaching, Parker has thrived as the boogeyman of the division, collecting feared contenders, including the Belligerent Zhilei Zhang, who was dispatched over 12 intense rounds. Martin Bakole, on just two days’ notice, as a replacement for Daniel Dubois, was then ruthlessly discarded, showcasing a menacing side to the New Zealander’s renowned skills. Wardley’s popularity has grown through his simple approach: see target, hit target. A rugged style, stemming from his amateur fighting background, that epitomises the essence of heavyweight boxing. The Briton had a frustrating and, at times, demoralising night at the hands of Justis Huni in June as the Ipswich man’s world title dreams started to fade at the hands of the classy Australian. But Huni’s momentary lapse in concentration and one exhilarating swipe from Wardley scrambled his foe’s senses to flip the contest to soar into world title contention. A pivotal fight to the heavyweight landscape, the audience ringside in East London proved as much. Tyson Fury, who rejected the prospect of a return to boxing from retirement this week, even for £1bn, watched on with intrigue, his white suit with roses and splashes of blood perhaps an ominous glimpse at the action to come. Two more heavyweights, with an active role in the future of both fighters in the main event, also gathered, with former world champion Daniel Dubois well placed for a February return, the Independent has been told, while Lawrence Okolie, ranked fourth in the WBO, could also emerge as the next challenger. Wardley had to absorb piston-like jabs from the first round, with an explosion towards the end of the opener, leaving the Briton desperately clinging on. And through the third and fourth rounds, sweat started to spray from both gloves and heads as the toll of the contest started to become apparent. A weary look from Parker at the end of the sixth hinted at both respect and surprise at the fierce challenge posed by Wardley, and maybe shock at how he was still standing. But Wardley’s uppercut, part of his versatile arsenal, did enough to fend off Parker’s combinations and eventually signalled the beginning of the upset. The classic, looping Wardley shot cracked an exhausted Parker in the 11th with the original version, a whirlwind of a heavyweight, storming into range to overwhelm Parker. Was Parker vulnerable? Only so much as what appeared to be coming in a matter of seconds, he took a couple of big right hands, an uppercut and remained upright as the left hook finally forced Foster to step in. A delirious O2 crowd erupted and a chaotic celebration unfolded from Wardley’s corner, with the team diving on top of their man. For Wardley, there is now a once inconceivable prospect: A once rough and rugged prospect, scratching and clawing for an opportunity as a white collar fighter is poised to test himself against one of the greatest boxers of all time. The mercurial former Olympic champion and two-weight undisputed champion, who has left even the esteemed Fury and Anthony Joshua memerised. But the allure of the heavyweight division endures, despite Usyk’s dominance in recent years. Every reign must end, and Wardley now has that precious place at the front of the queue. “Usyk,” Wardley howled after standing tall once more after taking a tumble in celebration. Many have doubted him throughout his career, but it’s just the way he likes it.