Oladipo warns Parker vs. Wardley

Commentator Ade Oladipo notes that in the last 15 months Joseph Parker’s inactivity puts him in a fragile position against Fabio Wardley tonight in their heavyweight match at the O2 Arena in London, England. Parker has only fought two rounds, a total of four minutes, over the last eight months.

(Credit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)

Wardley (19-0-1, 18 kos) has been more active; He is younger, stronger, and when he beats his opponents down, they stay down. Ade gives Parker an advantage (36-3, 24 kos), barely based on his experience.

Fifteen months, four minutes of action

“My concern to Parker is that he had four minutes of boxing in 15 months,” commentator Ade Oladipo told Queensberrytalks about the inactivity of Joseph Parker.

Parker Martin Bakole, 310 lbs, beat out of shape in the second round earlier this year on February 22nd. Prior to that, Parker’s previous fight was a majority 12 -round decision victory over Zhilei Zhang on March 8, 2024. It didn’t look just like Joe Louis reincarnated in that battle, was dropped twice by Zhang, and only wins because of Zhilei hate out in the championship rounds.

A lack of quality activity and fighting puts Parker at enough disadvantage to give tonight the younger and repair wardley. Parker did not look trim, leaning in at 262 1/2 lbs in the Friday weighing.

Parker conditioning under the microscope

Joseph’s best weight is the mid -240s, and he looked like he hadn’t missed too many meals since his battle with Bakole. Surprisingly, Parker would allow himself to come to such an important battle and look as frankly with him against one of the biggest threshers in the department.

“Yes, he has had an amazing run of Wilder, Zhang, and Bakole. But he has not been active, and he is fighting against someone who has been active. Someone who is unpredictable. But you have to favor Parker,” he said.

“Parker is more experienced. What Parker has done in boxing for a decade is amazing. He has battled everyone except Fury and USYK, but this is a huge step forward for Wardley. This is not Justis Huni, it’s another level.