Fabio Wardley sensationally took the interim WBO heavyweight title at the O2 Arena, as he halted former world champion Joseph Parker in an 11th round stoppage win that moved the Englishman closer to a world title shot.
Parker became the WBO interim champion in 2023 in his win over Zhilei Zhang and has held it until his dramatic loss to Wardley tonight.
Wardley (20-0-1, KO19) became WBA interim boss in June at the home of his beloved Ipswich Town FC, coming from well behind to flatten Justis Huni in the tenth round, while New Zealand’s Parker (36-4, KO24) blasted out Martin Bakole in two rounds in defence of his interim WBO crown in his last contest in February.
The drama was in evidence from the opening bell, as Wardley was hurt by a Parker right hand late on. The visitor also landed a nice combination during the opening round. Parker’s right hand shook Wardley again in the second, but he roared back, landing big blows on the champion that rocked him momentarily.
Parker shook Wardley in the third, and the pair traded to the delight of the fans in the fourth, and Wardley was showing signs of damage in round five as Parker established some solid combination punches.
Parker again troubled Wardley in the sixth, and also worked well off his jab, and yet another big right hand found the mark in the seventh as Parker started to build a lead on the cards.
After two more dominant rounds, the ninth seeing Parker yet again wobble Wardley with the right, he looked on the way to victory in the tenth, only for Wardley to respond magnificently, a volley of shots stopping Parker in his tracks and turning the fight on his head.
Wardley kept the momentum going in the penultimate frame, and he unloaded a two-fisted attack, bouncing Parker from one side of the ring to the other, and it lead to referee Howard Foster waving the contest off, declaring Wardley the winner.
The victor swiftly called out undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk post-fight.
Ezra Taylor vs Steed Woodall
Ezra Taylor (13-0, KO9) shrugged off the disappointment of his fight with Lewis Edmondson falling through on fight week, and he took a ninth-round stoppage win against Steed Woodall (20-4-1, KO12) in their light heavyweight meeting.
Taylor put in a dominant display, and eventually Woodall’s corner was forced to throw the towel in for their charge in the penultimate session.
Remaining Undercard
The vacant IBO cruiserweight title was on the line, and Juergen Uldedaj (21-1, KO8) took a competitive points win against Rolly Lambert Fogoum (18-4-1, KO14).
Fogoum gave a brave effort, but Uldedaj was a worthy winner by scores of 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110.
Royston Barney-Smith (15-0, KO7) came of age in his first ten-rounder, and he took the IBF and WBO European super featherweight titles from current champion Danny Quartermaine (13-1-1, KO4) in a dominant win on the scorecards.
Quartermaine was deducted a point for use of the head in the seventh round, and he was on the canvas in the final round as Barney-Smith took victory by two scores of 100-88 and a third at 98-90.
Mitchell Smith (19-1, KO9) took the vacant WBO European lightweight title by outscoring Arnie Dawson (8-1, KO4).
Dawson was dropped in the opening round, and he eventually won by scores of 98-91 (twice) and 96-93.
The sole six-rounder came at super flyweight, where Tony Curtis (12-1, KO3) won all available rounds against Lakshmy Zaragoza Contreras (3-13-2, KO1).
In four-round contests, Jimmydean Wood (4-0, KO0) won all four frames against Artjom Spatar (5-18-1, KO1) at super welterweight, and at super middleweight, George Crotty (4-0, KO1) did the same against Bahadur Karami (4-39-4, KO1).
Super lightweight novice Anton Esson (5-0, KO3) was a 39-38 winner against Jordan Ellison (15-59-5, KO1), and featherweight debutant Zayn Ahmed (1-0, KO0) had to get off the canvas in the final round before winning 38-38 against Engel Gomez (9-52-3, KO4).
