Joseph Parker vs Fabio Wardley targeted for October 25 at the O2 Arena

Gotta say, the smart money goes on Parker finishing what his fellow Antipodean started, and possibly inside the distance, with a ref stoppage. Fabio still has that one shot, and Parker can be knocked down too. Good fight, and guaranteed title shot for the winner surely!

 

Good fight! Parker is really doing the work (one of the few HWs today), and SHOULD get his rightful shot at Usyk if he wins.

 

Imagine if you were a manager. The sport would be filled with guys like Gary Russell Jr.

 

I don't trust in Parker. I saw him against Whyte and Joyce. 50/50.

 

Exactly, you get it, the rest don't

 

The worst Parker beats the best Wardley.

 

Hell yes! Good match up that's also dangerous for Parker. Parker should outbox Wardley but not counting out Wardley's chances to stop Parker. Winner must take on Usyk next.

 

Not convinced by Wardley's ring IQ, I'll take Parker by decision

Shame Usyk is ducking because Parker should be getting his shot now. But Wardley is a decent fight to stay active

 

I'm not saying I don't wish for wardley to take challenges. But he could take many interesting fights that are challenges. He already could have very well lost against Huni. Parker seems like a foregone conclusion. Kabayel the same. And thus I am wondering if they have a different evaluation of things than I do. Probably.

Also they don't need 'me' (in the way you envision me) for that. Hearn, Arum, Warren and Haymon already do that pretty well... Which is again why I am wondering as it doesn't seem like a smart option.

Okolie, bakolie, joshua, ajagba, torrez, zhang, anderson, jalolov would all be more interesting matches to me, because he has a chance and yet it's never sure with him. That's what makes him exciting to me, he is always losing until he maybe wins. He could also fight pulev. I assume gassiev might be a very interesting matchup.

Parker as an opponent is simply a wasted match to me. He will lose. It will be one sided. And he could have great other matchups

Edit: and the votes say I am not the only one thinking this...

 

You have basically written off Wardley as someone who can compete with the very best in the world.

This fight is perfect for him, because he clearly wants a world title. He should absolutely go for it too.

 

This fight will take place with the intention of getting Parker out of the way because British fighters bring more viewership, but Parker will not give them that satisfaction...

 

Parker UD is my bet.

Sucks. I liked Wardley for a while, but he really won me over with the way he conducted himself after the Huni win.
He's bloody likeable and just a genuine and down to earth guy.
I like that he recognizes his shortcomings and just wants the chance to measure up against the best in the division, but realistically he comes up short here sadly.
I do think he'll continue to earn fans with his efforts and personality, and there's always a chance - always - that he can land the perfect shot, but it's got to be a slim chance.

 

Yeah, because boxer fight the exact same way EVERY fight.

 

Ok, you're right. I have written him off from my estimation of what he can achieve. But it's good, that he doesn't share that perspective and at least tries. Better than most if he does it, because risk reward is not great I think.

 

I think I hold such a positive view of him because of how much he has challenged himself. Its not like he went from bashing bums to getting an unearned title shot.

Wardley has been gradually, and consistently climbing up the ladder, starting with Simon Vallily. He then fought what should have been the corpse of Eric Molina, but Molina had some fight in him, and badly hurt Wardley. But, Wardley´s power bailed him out - a sign for what was to come in the future.
Then came Nick Webb, followed by Nathan Gorman, and fight with David Adeleye for the British crown. He then defended it against a fellow British prospect in Frazier Clarke.
And now in his last fight he took a step further towards onto the world stage, against Justis Huni.

Parker is the perfect step up for Wardley, at least at this very moment.