TOP heavyweight Joseph Parker laughed off any suggestions aired at today’s press conference that accepting a fight with hard-hitting Fabio Wardley would be tantamount to walking towards fire.
Considering that the former WBO champion has mixed with the likes of Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole, while living to tell the tale, suggests Wardley will be just another day at the puncher’s office.
“Walking towards the fire? I love the fire. I’ve fought a lot of fighters out there who are big punchers and they haven’t been able to get me out of there, so credit to Fabio Wardley for taking this fight,” stated Parker.
“We could have sat and waited for Usyk, when he is ready or not injured, but we as fighters are showing that we will fight anyone at any time. I think this is going to be a great fight.
“I know Wardley is determined and says he has ticked all the boxes and got the rounds in that he needs to have a big fight like this. But fighting someone like myself is very different from fighting everyone else he has fought.”
Parker’s boxing brain, resilience and engine have turned him into one of the most difficult to beat operators on the heavyweight world scene. Not that his current form has been enough to snare a long-awaited Usyk chance, while rumours of the undisputed king considering options like Joshua (part 3), Fury (part 3) or even Chisora (part 2) over him continue to fill the chip shop papers of tomorrow.
“I bring a lot of experience, belief and determination and I will win come 25th October,” added Parker, whose 2022 stoppage loss to Joe Joyce may have signalled the end of a lesser man, but Parker’s turnaround in form since then has been remarkable.
Fabio Wardley may be a relative novice in terms of experience, yet his 19-0-1 (18 KOs) record reveals a fierce desire to compete and win. Wardley’s past form shows that he will leave nothing to chance on October 25 when he faces Parker in London.
Just like when he came from behind to KO Aussie Justis Huni in Ipswich over the summer. He might need a ferocious finish once more if Parker builds an early lead. The New Zealander is unlikely to let himself get caught out as quickly as his Antipodean counterpart, Huni.
“There are levels. They do say there are levels in boxing and I believe with the experience that I have and what I have been working on in New Zealand, I have got a good base and I am excited to see what I can do in the ring,” said Parker.
