De facto semifinals in boxing can be a poisoned chalice. Just ask Joseph Parker .
When Riyadh Season made its first big splash into heavyweight boxing in December 2023, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder were put on the same card, in a collision course for the following March.
Joshua did his bit, taking apart Otto Wallin over five one-sided rounds, but the matchup with Wilder did not happen because Parker defused and out-pointed the feared former WBC champion over 12 rounds.
Parker is now the favourite in a similar equation. If he comes through white collar slugger turned professional knockout artist Fabio Wardley at the O2 Arena on Saturday, two-time and reigning undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk lies in wait.
“For me, this is all or nothing. I am not really thinking about losing this fight, I am going into this fight to win,” Parker told the pre-fight news conference. “And when I win, I will be going onto the next fight. I respect my opponent and what he has done in his career and how he has prepared for this fight, but I am a different level, to be honest. And I am going to show it on Saturday night.”
Wardley was being roundly outboxed in his previous fight against Australian stylist Justis Huni before detonating a sledgehammer right hand on his opponent’s chin. Another shot like that this weekend could be life-changing.
“The separation between where Joe is and where people think I am has been a common theme for me throughout my career. It is nothing new that I am hearing,” Wardley said. “Every time I step up to a new level, it is always this is a step too far until I come through and win and then it is the next step is too far.
“I relish the challenge, I look forward to stepping up and proving people wrong, showing people that I am very much at the top level in this division.
MORE: Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley undercard: Complete list of fights before 2025 heavyweight boxing match
Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley main card results
- Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley for the interim WBO heavyweight title
- Juergen Uldedaj vs. Rolly Lambert; cruiserweights
- Lewis Edmondson vs. Steed Goodall; light heavyweight title
- Danny Quartermaine vs. Royston Barney-Smith; super featherweights
- Mitchell Smith vs. Arnie Dawson; Lightweights
Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley start time
- Date: Saturday, October 25
- Start time: 6:40 p.m. BST
- Main event start time (approx.): 10:30 p.m. BST
- Location: York Hall – London
Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley tune-in info
- Live Stream: DAZN
- PPV Price: £24.99 (UK)/ $59.99 (US)
The Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley fight card will be available via DAZN PPV for $59.99 in the US and £24.99 in the UK.
Non-subscribers buying the PPV get seven days of free access to the entire DAZN platform. A new customer buying the PPV and a DAZN annual subscription will get the first month of their subscription free.
A DAZN monthly subscription in the US is $19.99 on a 12-month contract or $29.99 month-to-month in the United States. The annual subscription is $224.99.
In the UK, a monthly subscription costs £9.99 on a 12-month contract or £19.99 month-to-month. An annual subscription will cost £99.99.
