Step into the next Ipswich lion’s den

Fabio Wardley (20-0-1, 19 Kos) believes that the four-belt heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is a “man of his word” and will choose to defend his undoubted crown against him as he said when he said he would face his battle winner against interim champion WBO Joseph Parker (36-4, 24 ko).

(Credit: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)

Wardley did his part, stopping Parker in Round 11 on Saturday night to become a new Mandatory WBO challenger and an interim champion at the O2 Arena in London. It was a severe battle for Wardley where he was injured several times. But eventually, he came through to stop Parker, 33, in the 11th round after he hit him with a series of unanswered punctures.

Parker was not happy with how referee Howard Foster managed to pull the plug on the match in round 11 when he was shipped up, trying to drive out a storm of shots from Wardley. It was quite obvious that Fabio was not getting tired of throwing after his hurt. Referee Foster had no choice but to stop the battle or venture to help win Parker after the canvas if Wardley had been set out.

Man his word

“Can I have taken him out of the second? Who knows?” Fabio Wardley said to Ifl TV For Joseph Parker losing his mouth in Round Two after being hurt badly. “I think he was a man of his word. He said in preparation, ‘I would be happy to take the winner.’ So, I’m the winner. Let’s take me on, baby, ”said Wardley when he was asked if he believes the undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will fight it.”

Leave or verify

If usyk refuses to fight against Wardley, as Moses Itauma did, he would have to give up his WBO title. He can do that, obviously, but who else is there for him to fight? Tyson Fury revealed this week that he is going to remain retired because he does not want to venture brain damage. A trilogy with Anthony Joshua would be fun, but usyk has already beaten him twice. Joshua would have to be a glutton for punishment to want to fight usyk again.

The old mouth piece trick was a good one by Parker. He lost as an old vet at the very moment when Wardley was about to be clinically cast out, The Time Out bought Parker’s valuable time which allowed him to survive round two.

Ipswich calls out the champion

“I think Ipswich is big enough to take care of usyk. Come on, Usyk. Get a word. That’s not me,” said Wardley when he was asked if he would rather fight usyk rather than fight for the empty WBO title. “I’m a man who has won everything in the area.”

Usyk will probably go ahead and face Wardley next, as it is a battle that will gain a lot of interest worldwide. There is money to make for usyk, and it is one that can be earned if it can put it out as Justis Huni did for long periods last June.

“I don’t intend to pass it on to me and I sitting there happily about it. I want to fight for it and win it that way,” said Wardley.