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fabio wardley “Rollercoaster” has had a rough few months, but is determined to prove more people wrong and give him a chance at a world title on Saturday night.
British heavyweight Wardley will compete wbo mandatory challenger joseph parker But O2 The winner will next face Oleksandr Usyk along with Gyan.
That chance could have slipped Wardley away had he lost to Justice Hooney at Portman Road in June, but the Ipswich-born boxer produced a stunning 10th-round stoppage after trailing on the judges’ scorecards – and celebrated the arrival of his baby girl a few days later.
Wardley said: “Yeah, it’s been a roller coaster three or four months! Don’t get me wrong, it’s the best thing and I love it every day.
“It’s a different feeling at the end of your work day when you get to go home to your family and your little one. It’s actually more of a relief than I initially thought.
“I thought it might be kind of weighty or cumbersome, but actually I’m just looking forward to finishing my day and playing and hanging out with him.
“So, yes, it’s worked really well for me. It’s a nice little thing to get me home and switch off and take my mind off things. I’m thoroughly enjoying it and it’s great.”
The ability to switch off is important in all sports, but especially when Wardley has the golden carrot of undisputed world heavyweight champion Usyk in front of him.
One of Wardley’s most vocal supporters on Saturday will be his mother Shoni-Leigh, who raised the 30-year-old as a single parent and continues to inspire him to strive for more in life.
Wardle reflected, “It’s impacted me in so many ways that I probably don’t even know what went through my mind the first time I saw him, how much he grinded and grafted for me as a kid.”
“How much she encouraged me to be myself, to do well and to move forward, no matter the circumstances, no matter what was going on in our lives, surrounded me with love.
“Wherever, whatever we had or didn’t have, she instilled in me strong core values. Hopefully when my little one grows up and grows up, I will try my best to pass them on to them and carry that same strength forward.
“She’s always been my biggest fan. It’s funny, when you talk about your mother, about boxing or combat sports in general, it can be very brutal. She’s never been one to hide behind her hands or look at what’s going on.
“She’s always at the forefront of the crowd, on her feet, cheering, yelling, basically trying to get in the ring herself if possible. She’s been my biggest supporter in that sense.”
Wardley’s family have helped him take the unconventional route from amateur boxing to white-collar boxing to reach the pinnacle of world titledom and the undefeated British boxer is set to silence more doubters on Saturday.
“There will always be something for me to prove,” Wardley reflected.
“The initial story for me was, ‘Oh, he’s white-collar, he’s going to get screwed at some point. He’s going to level up and someone is going to beat him.’
“There’s always a but at the end of why I won. I feel like there’s always something to prove.
“It doesn’t bother me, honestly it’s something I enjoy. I keep exceeding expectations when I hear new things people come out with!”