Fabio Wardley Shocks Joseph Parker In Knockout Victory

From Near Defeat to Defining Victory

Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) endured a punishing opening, as Parker (36-4, 24 KOs) dictated with combinations and body work that had the undefeated challenger in visible trouble. But Wardley flipped the script in Round 2 with one of his trademark right hands, stunning Parker and swinging momentum.

Parker recovered and controlled stretches of the middle rounds, using experience and composure to pick his spots. By Round 8, it appeared he was comfortably ahead on the scorecards. Then came the turn.

In the 10th, Parker looked moments away from finishing Wardley only for the resilient Brit to land a desperate right uppercut that halted Parker’s surge. Smelling opportunity, Wardley came out blazing in the 11th, connecting flush with another right that sent Parker reeling to the ropes. Referee Howard Foster stepped in to save Parker from further punishment as the O2 erupted. Honestly I’m not a fan of the stoppage as Parker could have still defended himself. The stoppage was premature which has fight fans in a frenzy on social media.

“I’ve got only one thing to say: Uuuusyk!” Wardley shouted in the ring. “What I lack in experience, I make up for in sheer determination, heart, and will.”

The Road to Undisputed

Wardley’s victory catapults him into boxing’s ultimate prizefight a 2026 showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, who confirmed before the event that he would face the winner in his next bout.

Promoter Frank Warren praised the improbable rise of his heavyweight star:

“This is a story I’ve never seen in boxing before. Oleksandr is a great champion. He said he wants to fight, he’s not going to vacate the belts. His next fight against Fabio Wardley will be for all four belts. That’s what he deserves.”

The Fallout

For Parker, the defeat ends a six-fight win streak that included victories over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole. For Wardley, it’s a career-defining triumph one that transforms him from a contender into the man standing on the doorstep of undisputed glory.