The O2 Arena in London hosts a heavyweight clash with the winner surely in the frame for a world title shot, as WBO interim champion Joseph Parker takes on WBA interim boss Fabio Wardley.
Queensberry promote Parker vs Wardley and DAZN televise live on pay per view.
After being held to a draw by Frazer Clarke in March last year, Wardley (19-0-1, KO18) emphatically set the record straight in an immediate rematch, wiping out Clarke to defend his British and Commonwealth crowns in under a round in Riyadh.
That led to a homecoming fight at his beloved Ipswich Town FC in June, where he would face Justis Huni for the interim WBA title.
Wardley was second best almost throughout, but heavyweight boxing produced once again, seven points down on two cards and five behind on a third, Wardley found a stunning tenth-round knockout from the gods to take victory, and move closer to a world title shot.
New Zealand’s Parker (36-3, KO24) is the next challenge for Wardley, and the former WBO champion has won six on the spin since losing to Joe Joyce in 11 in 2022.
After two comeback wins, Parker then dominated Deontay Wilder for a landslide points win at the end of 2023, and came off the canvas twice to take a majority nod against Zhilei Zhang in Riyadh in March 2024.
Parker was last out in February, and he blasted out Martin Bakole in two rounds in defence of his interim WBO crown. Bakole stepped in at days notice for Daniel Dubois, who withdrew due to illness.
Prediction: Wardley’s best chance here is early, but I think Parker can outsmart him, and my pick is for him to take over after halfway, and win clearly on the cards.
Ezra Taylor vs Steed Woodall
British light heavyweight champion Lewis Edmondson has pulled out of a contest with Ezra Taylor (12-0, KO8) on fight week due to injury, so Steed Woodall (20-3-1, KO12) steps in at short-notice to take this 12-round clash.
Taylor has been out twice in 2025, starting with a second-round knockout of Ryan Maycock in March, and he then took a clear points win over ten in May against the previously unbeaten Troy Jones.
Last June saw Woodall stun Lerrone Richards in Bolton, scoring a sixth-round stoppage, but he was then defeated in two rounds by Callum Simpson in a challenge for British and Commonwealth belts in January.
Woodall did return in September, winning all six rounds against Marcelo Bzowski in Cannock.
Prediction: Taylor is a talent, and I think he can get the job done here inside schedule.
Remaining Undercard
The final twelve rounder sees the vacant IBO cruiserweight title on the line, with Juergen Uldedaj (20-1, KO8) taking on Rolly Lambert Fogoum (18-3-1, KO14).
Uldedaj has won five on the spin since a 2023 points loss, and he can defeat Fogoum on the scorecards to take the belt home here.
An interesting ten-rounder sees Royston Barney-Smith (14-0, KO7) going up to the level for the first time, and he can take the IBF and WBO European super featherweight titles from current champion Danny Quartermaine (13-0-1, KO4) on points.
Also over ten, Mitchell Smith (18-1, KO9) can win the vacant WBO European lightweight title by outscoring Arnie Dawson (8-0, KO4).
The only six-rounder is at super flyweight, where Tony Curtis (11-1, KO3) can win early against Lakshmy Zaragoza Contreras (3-12-2, KO1).
In four-round contests, Jimmydean Wood (3-0, KO0) can win on points against Artjom Spatar (5-17-1, KO1) at super welterweight, and at super middleweight, George Crotty (3-0, KO1) can do the same against Bahadur Karami (4-38-4, KO1).
Super lightweight novice Anton Esson (4-0, KO3) will likely need the distance to see off Jordan Ellison (15-58-5, KO1), and featherweight debutant Zayn Ahmed can start with a points win against Engel Gomez (9-51-3, KO4).
