Former two weight world champion, David Haye has given his prediction for this weekends heavyweight clash between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley.
Haye will be a keen observer as Parker and Wardley clash at the O2 Arena on Saturday.
The 45-year-old credited Parker’s resume and will to take on tough tests as the WBA interim champion takes another dangerous opponent this weekend.
Parker became interim champ with his hard fought win over Zhilei Zhang, raising from the canvas twice to win the fight.
Haye told Pro Boxing Fans.
“He’s on tremendous form you know seven fights on the spin, Bakole, Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang so that’s probably three of the most avoided and dangerous fighters on the planet.
“Over the last ten years he has fought back-to-back-to-back and that shows the type of mindset he’s got.
“He believes he is the best on the planet and he is willing to get in there against the very best and credit to him .
“He finds himself once again in the ring with a young guy who is coming to bring the heat.”
Parker marks Wardley’s first time facing a former world champion as he continues to raise the standard of opposition.
He was last in action in June where he stopped Australian prospect Justis Huni in the tenth round, he was dominated for most of the fight but managed to land a trademark right hand to end the fight.
Wardley now has 18 stoppages on his record, boasting a 95% knockout ratio with wins over Frazer Clarke and David Adeleye.
“Fabio has shown in his last fight that even when it’s not going his way he doesn’t quick, he doesn’t give up he doesn’t get disheartened he just keeps firing.
“He knows if he can detonate on someone’s chin they’re going to sleep so he has that big equaliser
“He is granite hard he is tough, he’s durable with bags of balls, I think it’s gonna be very explosive this fight with two big warriors trading blows it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Haye gave his final prediction based on the experience Parker boasts, having boxed 180 more professional rounds than Wardley.
Parker has shared the ring with some of the sports best from Anthony Joshua to Dillian Whyte. He has also faced the seasoned Derek Chisora beating him in back to back fights.
“My pick for this particular fight, I think Joseph Parker has the experience, he’s done it time and time again.
“Wardley we are going to have to see something from him on Saturday night that he hasn’t shown up until this point outside of the punch power but how that punch power presents itself on the chin is key.”
The Ipswich based boxer is set to return to the ring four months on from his gruelling fight with Huni.
“I’m unsure that since his last fight against Huni, in the fight he was losing pretty much every single round then obviously pulled out the late knockout victory.
“He can bridge the gap in technical skill which he is going to need to get rid of a solid, rock solid Joseph Parker who is on very very good form.”
Both men look to land a shot at a full world title if they come through as the victor on Saturday.
Parker was unfortunate to not get a shot at two time undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, having been made a mandatory opponent after the Ukranian’s stoppage of Daniel Dubois he has since been granted an extension before a fight has to be made.
