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fabio wardley Fell happily after a grueling and, at times, messy fight, which included a most thrilling knockout. finally it was shipped joseph parker To set up a meeting with the Heavyweight King in the 11th round. oleksandr usykA fight that could never have been imagined years ago after Wardley emerged from the white collar sceneOnly dillian white To demonstrate foresight and bring it out of obscurity.
The stoppage would have sparked debate and it was unfortunate that the referee was Howard Foster, bringing back memories of that controversial first meeting between Carl Froch and George Groves. For now, Wardley won’t care, this entertaining eliminator is coming after Usyk spent years cementing himself as an untouchable force who has presided over the division. But Parker vs. Wardley is just one of many fights beneath him that are slowly turning the tide of a confusing pecking order with contenders and hopefuls. Now however, the Ipswich man, WBO interim world heavyweight champion and still undefeated, shrugged off repeated attacks from a brilliant Parker and delivered a powerful stoppage as the 12th round approached.
In an entertaining contest, in which Parker was ahead by six rounds on one card, by two rounds on the other, with a lead on the third entering the 11th round, both fighters traded shots at the slightest opportunity. But it would be shortsighted to dismiss this heavyweight scrap as a mere brawl, with Parker’s skills often producing more brutal shots. Wardley also showed a new side. Strikes delivered from a slow, languid stance surprised the Kiwi with their trajectory, and shots to the body created a wrinkle in this violent chess match.
“We knew he was tough, I knew he was hurt, but he wouldn’t go early, we picked our spots and ultimately got him out there,” Wardley said. “I told everyone I wouldn’t lose today, and I did what I said I would. It’s not done yet; everyone talks about my story.
“Everyone said I would go nowhere, without Whyte I would still be lost in the small halls, he got me out of tough situations and changed my life.”
In Wardley’s way tonight was Parker, whose admirable recent run saw him comprehensively take apart Deontay Wilder, at a time when the American was still a fearsome prospect. But with Halloween approaching, Parker has emerged as the boogeyman of the division, and he has assembled a collection of dangerous contenders, including the combative Xilei Zhang, who was dispatched over 12 intense rounds. Martin Bakole, on only two days’ notice, as replacement Daniel DuboisThen ruthlessly discarded, revealing a dangerous side to the New Zealander’s famous skills.
Wardley’s popularity has grown due to his simple approach: see the target, hit the target. A tough style stemming from his amateur fighting background, which embodies the essence of heavyweight boxing. The Briton endured a frustrating and at times discouraging night at the hands of Justice Heuni in June, as the Ipswich man’s world title dreams faded at the hands of the classy Australian. But Huni’s momentary lapse in concentration and an encouraging swipe from Wardley caught his opponent off guard and sent the bout into world title contention.
A defining fight for the heavyweight scene, the crowd in East London proved to be just that. tyson furyThose who this week rejected the prospect of a return to boxing from retirement, even for £1billion, watched with intrigue, his white suit with roses and blood splatters perhaps an ominous glimpse of the action to come. The main event also brought together two more veterans with active roles in both fighters’ futures, with former world champion Daniel Dubois in good shape for a return in February. Independent It is reported that Lawrence Okolie, who is ranked fourth in the WBO, can also emerge as the next challenger.
Wardley endured piston-like blows from the first round, with one explosion at the end of the opener leaving the Briton badly bruised. And during the third and fourth rounds, sweat began to pour from both gloves and heads as the outcome of the contest began to become clear. Parker’s tired look at the end of the sixth indicated both respect and surprise at the fierce challenge posed by Wardley, and perhaps also shock at how still he stood.
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But Wardley’s uppercuts, part of his versatile arsenal, did enough to stop Parker’s combinations and signal the beginning of the eventual upset.
The classic, looping Wardley shot tore apart a tired Parker in the 11th with the original version, a whirlwind of a heavyweight, bursting into range to overwhelm Parker. Was Parker unsafe? Only that Joe was coming within seconds, he took some big right hands, an uppercut and remained upright as a left hook finally forced Foster to step up. A dejected O2 crowd erupted and a chaotic celebration broke out from Wardley’s corner, with the team diving over their man.
For Wardley, there is now a previously unimaginable makeshift: a once tough and rugged prospect, scratching and clawing for an opportunity as a white-collar fighter, ready to test himself against one of the greatest boxers of all time. The brilliant former Olympic champion and undisputed champion at two weights, who has also wowed the prestigious Fury and Anthony Joshua. But despite Usyk’s dominance in recent years, the allure of the heavyweight division remains. Every reign must come to an end, and Wardley now has that precious spot at the front of the line. “Usyak,” Wardley shouted, standing up once again after the celebration. Many people have doubted him throughout his career, but that’s how he likes it.