Boxing
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Wardley comes from behind to stop Parker in incredible heavyweight battle - Is Usyk next?
Watch Buatsi vs Parker only on DAZN - November 1
Fabio Wardley has landed himself a shot at Oleksandr Usyk with a stunning finish against Joseph Parker after once again being well behind on the scorecards at London's O2 Arena.
A relentless attack from the Ipswich man in round 11 had Parker in trouble, and as he sagged on the ropes looking to recover, and even though he was avoiding some of Wardley’s attacks, Howard Foster decided that he had seen enough and halted the contest.
Wardley made a good start in the contest and had Parker buzzed in round two, but that was as good as it got for him in the early stages as Parker began to dominate the middle rounds and was pulling ahead with the judges.
With the fight seemingly Parker’s to lose, he sought an early evening when going on the front foot in round ten, but hurting Wardley was his major mistake as he galvanized his opponent.
Wardley shook off whatever Parker had to throw at him and came back with assaults of his own as he finished the round impressively despite being out on his feet just seconds earlier.
Coming out for the penultimate round, Wardley carried on where he left off in the tenth stanza as he went after Parker with all he had. Some shots landed, plenty missed, but with Parker on the ropes and looking shook, Foster decided to call the fight off.
In the post-fight interview, Wardley made it clear that he wanted to face Usyk next, and even though victory in the fight could be beyond, nobody, not even his harshest critic, can say he does not deserve the opportunity to add another incredible chapter to what has been a remarkable story.
Read all updates from tonight below
