Joseph Parker has dismissed any talks of facing Oleksandr Usyk and is focused on defeating Fabio Wardley in their upcoming heavyweight bout.
The 33-year-old New Zealand boxer is gearing up for his return to the ring to take on the formidable Wardley. Parker’s year has been challenging, with a missed opportunity to fight Daniel Dubois earlier in the year due to Dubois’ withdrawal just before the scheduled match.
After an impressive victory over Martin Bakole, Parker was set to face Usyk, but the Ukrainian opted to fight Dubois instead, resulting in a spectacular knockout at Wembley Stadium. Despite being ordered to defend his titles against Parker, Usyk requested a delay citing injury, leading to an extension being granted pending the outcome of the Parker-Wardley fight.
In a pre-fight press conference, Parker expressed his determination to win, emphasizing his focus on the present bout and his confidence in his abilities. Wardley, on the other hand, is looking forward to the challenge and believes he is prepared to face Parker.
The highly-anticipated showdown between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley is scheduled to take place at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, October 25. Fans can catch the action on DAZN PPV, with the winner expected to earn a shot at facing Usyk for the WBO belt and other titles early next year.