October 25, 2025 • 8 mins
A shock loss for heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker after suffering an 11th round TKO defeat by Fabio Wardley in London.
Parker is no longer the WBO interim titleholder and his hopes of challenging undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk have been derailed.
NZ Herald sportswriter Liam Napier was there on the ground - and he recapped the action.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Ed B Arena in London. These the stunning scenes this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Size that shot dead play everyway battles you won. Sorry,
that is a syn very savage growling.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
A fan and baby lolad rage upbeating and Suner.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
That's the opportunity of challenging for the undescuted Evyweight Championship
of the World that was.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
On design this morning. Joseph Parker beat him this morning
in stunning scenes at the Oto Arena in London against
Farbio Wardley. This is obviously a vital fight for Parker
and Wardley of course, as to whether who was going
to get that spot for the world title fight against
Alexander Usik and Joseph Parker loses in the eleventh round
(01:17):
via TKO. Joining us now from the Go To Arena
in London is Liam Napier, who was on the ground. Liam.
Thanks for your time afternoon, Elliott. Were you stunned by
that result?
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Well, it's heavyweight boxing. Anything's possible, but there was certainly
an upset. Joe Parker was a hot favorite with the
bookies and on paper he had all the experience, and
he was widely considered to be the superior skilled boxer.
But everyone also knew that Fabia Wadley has equalizing power,
devastating right hands, and that's ultimately how he got the
(01:56):
job done.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
It felt like Parker and looking at the scoring, at
least they were doing undersign with the commentators that Parker
was ahead of the game to that point, at least
on points lad in the fight was.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
That's all right? Yes, I think he was well up
on all cards, probably four.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Maybe even five rounds with the judges. But look, it
was a very back and forth contest. Joe came out
with a flurry in the first round, but then he
was stunned in the second and actually lost his mouth
guard which allowed him time to recover. Then I think
he dominated largely the middle rounds and then Fabio Wadly
(02:34):
Justice he did in his last fight against Australian Justice
Hooney rallied late, landed those devastating punches and Joe was stopped.
I think it was one minute's fifty odd seconds into
the penultimate round too. Yeah, rob him, will not rob
him to take away that elusive crack at the undisputed
(02:55):
heavyweight king Alexander Usik.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Were you surprised by the decision to wave off the fight?
Gavin Parker was ahead on points at that point, and
there was no eight count. It was basically fights done.
Speaker 5 (03:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Look, I think it was an early stoppage. I don't
think there's any disputing that.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
But was on the ropes. He was taking a lot
of punishment and he wasn't firing a lot back.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
I think one of the issues, one of the question
marks is Waterley's last little flurry. Probably his last three
punches were blocked, they didn't actually connect. Maybe in hindsight,
Parker could have should have taken a knee that would
have allowed him time to recover, and he was a
hit on all the cards, so he still could have
won the fights. But I think when you look around
(03:41):
the world that there is a bit of an outcry
from a lot of noted but boxing pundits and certainly
New Zealand fans who felt that stoppage was too early.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Have you spoken to the Parker camp, what's their reaction
to the defeat.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Yeah, I've just emerged from the post fight press conferences,
and Parker's obviously very disappointed with the result. He was
he credited Fabia Wadley with the victory and committed him
on that but he said he felt fine, that he
wanted to carry on at the time of the stoppage.
So I guess you could say he was disappointed or
(04:18):
begrudging of the way the fight finished, but I guess
it was taken out of his hands.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
So we're too now for Joseph Parker. Do you think
Liam that was a shot at the undisputed heavyweight World
Championship about against Alexander USA. So where does Joseph Parker
go now?
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Look, it is a devastating blow outlet because Parker, over
the course of since twenty twenty two, has last loss
to Joe Joyce, has gone on a six fight wind streak.
He's beaten some of the most vaunted, avoided heavyweights to put.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
Himself right in the queue for that shot.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
At Usik, he was undeniably the second best heavyweight on
the planet in terms of his status at least and
now he really does go back to the pack, and
it is a very congest pack. He has one more
fight on his contract with Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions.
So and Parker at the press Currant said he still
(05:16):
is the hunger and heart and desire to carry on.
But he's been in a lot of wars, and he's
thirty three years old, and while he's probably in the
prime of his career, he also has his faculties and
everything to consider. He's got five kids and a wife.
So I think he'll have one more fight and depending
on that, how that goes will very much determine its future.
(05:38):
But it is hard to see him, you know, going
back and trying to go on another run to get
a second crack at another world title shot.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Well, we see what's he going to do? I mean,
what's the quality of fighter he's going to have to
fight in that next fight to put himself back up there?
Can he do it on one fighter line? Or is
it back to the bottom of the pack for Joseph Parker.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
Potentially.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
I don't think he goes back to the bottom of
the pack, won'ty stretch, but it is a big setback.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Look, there's a number of desirable fights out there he.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
From a rematch perspective, there's marketable fights potentially against guys
like Joshua Dillian White, a number of those British fighters,
Derrek Trasaer he's fought twice before, and that was mentioned
of a potential rematch with Wardley at some point. I
think it was an amazing fight, back and forth, brilliant,
(06:33):
absorbing contest. I think people would love to see it again,
but who knows what happens between Wardley and Usik. So
for now, Joe, I guess we'll take time to recover
and take stock and we will see him again, but
it'll probably take him some time to get over this
first and foremost and it is a major, major setback
for his career.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
And will we get that Wardley fight after all?
Speaker 5 (06:57):
I think we will. Yes, there's no one else really.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
That Usak could fight, and if he doesn't, then he
will have to vacate the WBO title. Wardley will probably
be elevated straight to champion. Joe was that the interim champion,
so he's lost that status. But I think now particularly
Wardley's a very exciting fighter and he's someone that people
want to see, and I think that fight could easily
(07:24):
be put at a stadium like Wembley. Usik he's fought
in the UK number of times, so in many ways
it's a much easier fight to market than a park
of the Usk fight, and Usik has come out and
said that he wants to fight on for another couple
of years, that he wants to remain undisputed.
Speaker 5 (07:42):
So if he's a man of his words, he will
fight Wardley.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Well, it's going to be fascinated to see what happens
with both of those fighters. Legham Napier, thanks so much
for joining us at early hours of the morning in London.
Save travels. We'll see you in Chicago in a few days.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Will in the cheers.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Elliott, thank you very much, sir Liam Napier joining us
on the program this afternoon. He has covered at for
the New Zealand Herald as well, and you can view
as match report from the Two Arena or the fight
report I should say from the Two Arena in London.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talks it B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Ed B Arena in London. These the stunning scenes this morning.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Size that shot dead play everyway battles you won. Sorry,
that is a syn very savage growling.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
A fan and baby lolad rage upbeating and Suner.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
That's the opportunity of challenging for the undescuted Evyweight Championship
of the World that was.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
On design this morning. Joseph Parker beat him this morning
in stunning scenes at the Oto Arena in London against
Farbio Wardley. This is obviously a vital fight for Parker
and Wardley of course, as to whether who was going
to get that spot for the world title fight against
Alexander Usik and Joseph Parker loses in the eleventh round
(01:17):
via TKO. Joining us now from the Go To Arena
in London is Liam Napier, who was on the ground. Liam.
Thanks for your time afternoon, Elliott. Were you stunned by
that result?
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Well, it's heavyweight boxing. Anything's possible, but there was certainly
an upset. Joe Parker was a hot favorite with the
bookies and on paper he had all the experience, and
he was widely considered to be the superior skilled boxer.
But everyone also knew that Fabia Wadley has equalizing power,
devastating right hands, and that's ultimately how he got the
(01:56):
job done.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
It felt like Parker and looking at the scoring, at
least they were doing undersign with the commentators that Parker
was ahead of the game to that point, at least
on points lad in the fight was.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
That's all right? Yes, I think he was well up
on all cards, probably four.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Maybe even five rounds with the judges. But look, it
was a very back and forth contest. Joe came out
with a flurry in the first round, but then he
was stunned in the second and actually lost his mouth
guard which allowed him time to recover. Then I think
he dominated largely the middle rounds and then Fabio Wadly
(02:34):
Justice he did in his last fight against Australian Justice
Hooney rallied late, landed those devastating punches and Joe was stopped.
I think it was one minute's fifty odd seconds into
the penultimate round too. Yeah, rob him, will not rob
him to take away that elusive crack at the undisputed
(02:55):
heavyweight king Alexander Usik.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Were you surprised by the decision to wave off the fight?
Gavin Parker was ahead on points at that point, and
there was no eight count. It was basically fights done.
Speaker 5 (03:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
Look, I think it was an early stoppage. I don't
think there's any disputing that.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
But was on the ropes. He was taking a lot
of punishment and he wasn't firing a lot back.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
I think one of the issues, one of the question
marks is Waterley's last little flurry. Probably his last three
punches were blocked, they didn't actually connect. Maybe in hindsight,
Parker could have should have taken a knee that would
have allowed him time to recover, and he was a
hit on all the cards, so he still could have
won the fights. But I think when you look around
(03:41):
the world that there is a bit of an outcry
from a lot of noted but boxing pundits and certainly
New Zealand fans who felt that stoppage was too early.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Have you spoken to the Parker camp, what's their reaction
to the defeat.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
Yeah, I've just emerged from the post fight press conferences,
and Parker's obviously very disappointed with the result. He was
he credited Fabia Wadley with the victory and committed him
on that but he said he felt fine, that he
wanted to carry on at the time of the stoppage.
So I guess you could say he was disappointed or
(04:18):
begrudging of the way the fight finished, but I guess
it was taken out of his hands.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
So we're too now for Joseph Parker. Do you think
Liam that was a shot at the undisputed heavyweight World
Championship about against Alexander USA. So where does Joseph Parker
go now?
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Look, it is a devastating blow outlet because Parker, over
the course of since twenty twenty two, has last loss
to Joe Joyce, has gone on a six fight wind streak.
He's beaten some of the most vaunted, avoided heavyweights to put.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
Himself right in the queue for that shot.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
At Usik, he was undeniably the second best heavyweight on
the planet in terms of his status at least and
now he really does go back to the pack, and
it is a very congest pack. He has one more
fight on his contract with Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions.
So and Parker at the press Currant said he still
(05:16):
is the hunger and heart and desire to carry on.
But he's been in a lot of wars, and he's
thirty three years old, and while he's probably in the
prime of his career, he also has his faculties and
everything to consider. He's got five kids and a wife.
So I think he'll have one more fight and depending
on that, how that goes will very much determine its future.
(05:38):
But it is hard to see him, you know, going
back and trying to go on another run to get
a second crack at another world title shot.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Well, we see what's he going to do? I mean,
what's the quality of fighter he's going to have to
fight in that next fight to put himself back up there?
Can he do it on one fighter line? Or is
it back to the bottom of the pack for Joseph Parker.
Speaker 5 (06:01):
Potentially.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
I don't think he goes back to the bottom of
the pack, won'ty stretch, but it is a big setback.
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Look, there's a number of desirable fights out there he.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
From a rematch perspective, there's marketable fights potentially against guys
like Joshua Dillian White, a number of those British fighters,
Derrek Trasaer he's fought twice before, and that was mentioned
of a potential rematch with Wardley at some point. I
think it was an amazing fight, back and forth, brilliant,
(06:33):
absorbing contest. I think people would love to see it again,
but who knows what happens between Wardley and Usik. So
for now, Joe, I guess we'll take time to recover
and take stock and we will see him again, but
it'll probably take him some time to get over this
first and foremost and it is a major, major setback
for his career.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
And will we get that Wardley fight after all?
Speaker 5 (06:57):
I think we will. Yes, there's no one else really.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
That Usak could fight, and if he doesn't, then he
will have to vacate the WBO title. Wardley will probably
be elevated straight to champion. Joe was that the interim champion,
so he's lost that status. But I think now particularly
Wardley's a very exciting fighter and he's someone that people
want to see, and I think that fight could easily
(07:24):
be put at a stadium like Wembley. Usik he's fought
in the UK number of times, so in many ways
it's a much easier fight to market than a park
of the Usk fight, and Usik has come out and
said that he wants to fight on for another couple
of years, that he wants to remain undisputed.
Speaker 5 (07:42):
So if he's a man of his words, he will
fight Wardley.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Well, it's going to be fascinated to see what happens
with both of those fighters. Legham Napier, thanks so much
for joining us at early hours of the morning in London.
Save travels. We'll see you in Chicago in a few days.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Will in the cheers.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Elliott, thank you very much, sir Liam Napier joining us
on the program this afternoon. He has covered at for
the New Zealand Herald as well, and you can view
as match report from the Two Arena or the fight
report I should say from the Two Arena in London.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talks it B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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