BoxRec

jameswilson wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 12:24

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 11:13 He's a very likeable guy, but Wardley's going to catch a beating on Saturday.

Parker has struggled against a few people in the past and obviously lost but if you are easy to hit then it plays such a big advantage into his hands. He looked god awful against Hughie because Hughie was ‘elusive.’ Joshua was obviously at his peak back when they fought and Joyce while easy to hit was able to overwhelm Parker. I can’t see Wardley doing what Joyce did and also can’t see him outboxing him. I think it’s a rough night and Fabio may well end up taking one of those beatings where we don’t see him the same again.

It could be a fight that takes a lot out of both men. I don't think Wardley will go easy, and I can see him catching Parker with something big right at a moment when Parker thinks he's got him. It might be that kinda fight. Because the opportunities would be there for both guys to make it that way.

I think the style mesh is gonna guarantee though that at least 1 of these guys is gonna have to take a serious shellacking here.

tony1234 wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 13:25 Even without the BBC fight I can't see this selling on PPV, would have been a perfect DAZN main event but never a PPV. I'll be watching the Brentford v Liverpool game and save my cash , wouldn't be surprised if a lot did including pubs

Aspinall will steal a lot of viewers, too.

mickey1975 wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 13:57

tony1234 wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 13:25 Even without the BBC fight I can't see this selling on PPV, would have been a perfect DAZN main event but never a PPV. I'll be watching the Brentford v Liverpool game and save my cash , wouldn't be surprised if a lot did including pubs

Aspinall will steal a lot of viewers, too.

I forgot that was on too, Wardley is not known and Parker has been beaten each time at top level. Strange how anyone thought this was worthy as a PPV main event

Oiky wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 05:26 I dont see how you cant like Wardley, always want to see him do well but I reckon Parker knows too much for him

I like him a lot.
He is exciting, explosive, unconventional, and has game changing power- as Huni found out.
He is also funny, articulate, and fairly down to earth.
He works hard in the gym, can fight the full 12 rounds, and gradually improves every fight.
Not a lot to dislike really.

Will he beat Parker?
Puncher's chance

KiwiRider wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 14:06

Oiky wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 05:26 I dont see how you cant like Wardley, always want to see him do well but I reckon Parker knows too much for him

I like him a lot.
He is exciting, explosive, unconventional, and has game changing power- as Huni found out.
He is also funny, articulate, and fairly down to earth.
He works hard in the gym, can fight the full 12 rounds, and gradually improves every fight.
Not a lot to dislike really.

Will he beat Parker?
Puncher's chance

Summed it up well mate he 100% has the punchers chance, scary power, but will Parker be on his toes too much to catch it

Looking forward to it

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 03:21

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 03:03 Any chance Parkers recent run is a little flattering. Wilder shot. Bakole as fat as butter. Zhang win was very goox at time but already in danger of not aging well, beat again since and his best wins were joyce who has looked really bad.

Probs just clutching at straws, still think he beats wardley on savvy, workrate and activity.

But before the fights, many believed Wilder would knock him out, or that Zhang would be difficult (which he was) and that Bakole had a chance, even though, he then came in a lump.

It's always easy to look back and then see, oh, what has Wilder done since, what has Zhang done since? both lost. You can only beat what's in front of you at the time.

On here, look at polls..

Bakole had a lot of votes to KO Parker

Majority had Zhang beating Parker, most by KO.

61 Boxrec'rs had Wilder beating Parker, compared to the 22 who favoured Parker.

Seem's like many always bet against Parker. You can always pick at any boxers resume..

Good points. I am maybe viewing it with hindsight. I thought it was a given he would beat that version of wilder and bakole, perhaps at the time i thought different. I am certain i would have fancied zhang to win, he looked like the bogeyman at the time. Thing is i never really rated parker when he was champ so i havs a hard time that he is so improved, but he does just beat whats in front of him.

I like this fight. On paper it's Parker with matador tendencies, but if it catches fire it could be anyone's.

FABIO WARDLEY SAYS HE AND JOSEPH PARKER ARE THE ANTIDOTE TO BOXING'S NONSENSE

LONDON, England - Fabio Wardley has described Saturday night’s clash with Joseph Parker as ‘the antidote’ to boxing’s nonsense.

The two highly-rated heavyweights meet at London’s o2 Arena this weekend after a promotion with barely a crossed word between them. The bout will stream live on DAZN PPV.

Parker is well known as one the sport’s nice guys while Wardley, without a hint of provocation from his New Zealand opponent, is in no mood to drum up any animosity.

And the Ipswich man believes he and Parker are now showing how it should be done in a sport which has been invaded by novelty match-ups and unlicensed fighting.

“I think we are the antidote to all of that,” Wardley said. “Especially in British boxing.

"When you have someone that wants to get loud and mouthy in your face, you want to shut them up. But also there's another aspect to that. Look, if you're going to be a time waster then go waste someone else's time.

“Leave me alone. I don't want to hang around for that. I've stayed very consistent in my career in wanting to stay busy, stay active, challenge the best and move forward.”

Wardley and Parker both currently hold interim versions of the world heavyweight title belts owned by Ring and undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.

The winner of this fight will be next in line to face the Ukrainian great for the belts in 2026 and Wardley is proud he and Parker’s encounter will take place in London.

He added: “Obviously a lot of big fights are overseas, elsewhere, at the moment so to get two massive top-10 or even top-five heavyweights in the world in the capital, at the o2 for everyone to come and see or to tune in for, it’s a fantastic thing to be able to give to the fans here.

“British fans are some of the best fans in the world, they do love their boxing and the o2 will be vibrating on the 25th and you know the kind of atmosphere they bring.”

Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) is one of the division’s most in-form fighters having secured six straight wins including victories over fellow contenders Zhilei Zhang, Deontay Wilder and Martin Bakole.

But Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs) has direct access to two of the men who have defeated Parker so far given that his manager Dillian Whyte and gym-mate Anthony Joshua beat him in back-to-back fights in 2018.

When asked if he would be picking the brains of either Wardley said: “I've got my own in-house team. As a team, Dillian Whyte has already beaten Parker. We're 1-0 up.

“So I don't even necessarily need to go over to AJ and ask him because I can ask the in-house as well. But I also wouldn't put too much stock in that either because it's a different Joseph Parker from back then. This is a new Joseph Parker with a new trainer, new team, new run, a bit of a new style and the way he goes about things.

“I think he has more IQ in the ring and just a bit more comfortable in himself as a boxer and in his skill set.

“There might be areas I might have a conversation with the team about but ultimately I want to do my own assessment and look at him for what he is now and what he has been in these last few fights.”

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 16:24

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 03:21

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 03:03 Any chance Parkers recent run is a little flattering. Wilder shot. Bakole as fat as butter. Zhang win was very goox at time but already in danger of not aging well, beat again since and his best wins were joyce who has looked really bad.

Probs just clutching at straws, still think he beats wardley on savvy, workrate and activity.

But before the fights, many believed Wilder would knock him out, or that Zhang would be difficult (which he was) and that Bakole had a chance, even though, he then came in a lump.

It's always easy to look back and then see, oh, what has Wilder done since, what has Zhang done since? both lost. You can only beat what's in front of you at the time.

On here, look at polls..

Bakole had a lot of votes to KO Parker

Majority had Zhang beating Parker, most by KO.

61 Boxrec'rs had Wilder beating Parker, compared to the 22 who favoured Parker.

Seem's like many always bet against Parker. You can always pick at any boxers resume..

Good points. I am maybe viewing it with hindsight. I thought it was a given he would beat that version of wilder and bakole, perhaps at the time i thought different. I am certain i would have fancied zhang to win, he looked like the bogeyman at the time. Thing is i never really rated parker when he was champ so i havs a hard time that he is so improved, but he does just beat whats in front of him.

I’m on your side of the fence. I think Parker’s recent run is a little flattering.

It doesn’t make any difference if there is an element of hindsight in that. Form lines are form lines.

That’s why I like this fight. Parker is favourite, the smart money is him on points. But Wardley isn’t going to just lie down and has a live chance.

Gareth A Davies has revealed that Joseph Parker will make a massive purse of $3.2M US for his fight against Fabio Wardley on Saturday night

Weigh in live

Joseph Parker - 262.4lbs
Fabio Wardley - 242.7lbs

Other weights for televised fights:

12 rounds, vacant IBO cruiserweight title
Juergen Uldedaj, 199lbs 15oz
Rolly Lambert Fogoum, 199lbs 8oz

10 rounds, WBA continental gold light heavyweight title
Ezra Taylor, 173lbs 10oz
Steed Woodall, 174lbs 9oz

10 rounds, vacant WBO European lightweight title
Mitchell Smith, 134lbs 2oz
Arnie Dawson, 134lbs 14oz

10 rounds, IBF & WBO European junior lightweight titles
Danny Quartermaine, 129lbs 3oz
Royston Barney-Smith, 129lbs 9oz

They both looked great!
Parker is a bit of a unit now, 20 pounds above his regular fighting weight. So the extra wasn't just for Dubois.

I'm going with Parker to finish it before the 12th round. I don't know what they're feeding him but he is indeed a unit.

golden_labrador wrote: ↑24 Oct 2025, 14:16 I'm going with Parker to finish it before the 12th round. I don't know what they're feeding him but he is indeed a unit.

I can hazard a guess…

They naturally are larger and more muscular.

Can't write off Wardley, anyone with his heart and punch has a chance but Parker far more experienced, been there done it and is bang in form

Joe looks a bit tubby

What's the money line on Wardley by KO, TKO or DQ ?

samwbr wrote: ↑24 Oct 2025, 17:10 Joe looks a bit tubby

Looks like he's come in to make a statement and stop Wardley. Parker has never been a KO artist though, has he? OK, he spun fat and unfit Bakole's head around, but he's mostly a guy who goes the distance. They must have seen something that Wardley does all the time that they're confident they can take advantage of. Andy Lee is a good coach, I think.

Ben Davidson will of course have his gameplan of getting his charge smashed around the ring for most of the fight only to pull out a punch that they've worked on all camp.

I would like to see Wardley pull it off, though.

Cyclops wrote: ↑24 Oct 2025, 21:14

samwbr wrote: ↑24 Oct 2025, 17:10 Joe looks a bit tubby

. They must have seen something that Wardley does all the time that they're confident they can take advantage of. Andy Lee is a good coach, I think.

See how many uppercuts Wardley ate in the first Clarke fight?
Maybe that is something he and Ben have been working on, but my pick is Parker launching uppercuts off the jab

KiwiRider wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 14:06

Oiky wrote: ↑23 Oct 2025, 05:26 I dont see how you cant like Wardley, always want to see him do well but I reckon Parker knows too much for him

I like him a lot.
He is exciting, explosive, unconventional, and has game changing power- as Huni found out.
He is also funny, articulate, and fairly down to earth.
He works hard in the gym, can fight the full 12 rounds, and gradually improves every fight.
Not a lot to dislike really.

Will he beat Parker?
Puncher's chance

You should be his publicist. This is top stuff.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑24 Oct 2025, 14:05 They both looked great!
Parker is a bit of a unit now, 20 pounds above his regular fighting weight. So the extra wasn't just for Dubois.

I don't think the extra size serves him well. I didn't think it was a good idea when he was about to fight Dubois. He is looking slower and Wardley will have a big speed advantage. Parker was one of the more mobile HWs before he put on all that weight and he didn't have that mobility he had against Wilder and Zhang when he fought Bakole and was getting caught a lot. Wardley is a very live dog, Parker won't be on his toes outboxing Fabio like Huni did.
A disciplined Wardley with a good in and out explosive game plan could crack Joe.

Wardley was getting boxed around the ring by the last guy.. easily. (Forgot his name )


Getting old honestly