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24k gold TKO of Fabio Wardley Parker

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6 months ago

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Image: Fabio Wardley’s 24k Gold Performance: Stops Parker in Dramatic Round 11 to Demand Oleksandr Usyk Clash for Four Belts

Fabio Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KO) says he is ready to fight Oleksandr Usyk for his four heavyweight titles after defeating Joseph Parker (36-4, 24 KO) by 11th round technical knockout on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London.

(Source: Queensberry/Leigh Dawney)

Wardley’s 24-karat gold breakthrough

Wardley entered the fight holding the WBA interim heavyweight title against WBO interim champion Parker. There were moments in rounds 1, 9 and 10 where Wardley looked like he might not advance. What saved him was his resilience, his fighting spirit, and the way he gained energy when Parker briefly got him into trouble.

This is what turned the tables on Wardley in the 10th round. He was injured after eating multiple shots following a series of punches from Parker. He came back to stun Parker slow in the round. In the 11th, Wardley landed a smash right to Parker’s head, sending him back against the ropes.

The referee’s detention incites Parker’s ire

After a strange back and forth exchange, Parker fell to the ropes. Inexplicably, referee Howard Foster stepped in and stopped the fight. In response, an angry-looking Parker shoved Foster, letting him know he shouldn’t have stopped the fight. The arrest occurred at 1:54.

It looked like Wardley would have finished Parker off anyway. Wardley had a killer instinct and for Parker to survive, he would have to gaslight. It didn’t look like it was going to happen. Wardley would have hit him continuously if the referee hadn’t blown his whistle.

“I wasn’t hurt. I wasn’t concussed. You saw me go into it in the second round,” Fabio Wardley said in post-fight press conference after his victory over Joseph Parker. “It wasn’t anything earth-shattering. It wasn’t anything mind-blowing. It didn’t surprise me at all,” Wardley said when asked about Parker’s power.

Wardley actually looked dazed slow in the first round after being hit by a challenging right hand from Parker. But he came back sturdy in the second round, hurting Parker and hitting him with a storm of shots. It was a miracle that the Fresh Zealander made it out of the innings.

Usyk now in Wardley’s sights

“That was the goal and everything I wanted,” Wardley said of his thoughts on becoming a must-see for Oleksandr Usyk. “I can’t ask for anything more in this sport. When the bell rings, when Usyk and I finally get in the ring, he’s going to have to work for it.”

An eight-year slog to glory

It didn’t take Wardley too many years to close in on the Usyk fight. Fabio has been a professional for eight years and only started facing significant opponents in 2022. Since then, he has risen rapidly, defeating Parker, Frazer Clarke, Justis Huni, David Adeleye, Michael Polite Coffi and Nathan Gorman.

What was surprising was that Parker caused Wardley fewer problems than his previous opponent, Justis Huni, last June. Wardley’s situation against Huni was desperate as he was down for nine rounds before coming back and scoring a knockout in the tenth round. Tonight. The fight was close, with Parker leading by round 11 by scores of 98-92, 96-94 and 95-95.

“I would love to do it abroad. Bring him the belts, let’s put it on,” Wardley said of Usyk.

The season in Riyad is waiting to be decided

If Turki Alalshikh is involved, he will likely want to stage the Usyk vs. Wardley fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Assuming he actually finances the fight, as was the case with the two Usyk vs. Tyson Fury and the Usyk vs. rematch Daniel Dubois, placing the fight in Riyad would seem an obvious destination.

Fans just want to see Wardley and Usyk fight anywhere. This will be a completely different type of fight for Alexander than the ones he has fought so far in the heavyweight division. As we witnessed today, Wardley is a combination puncher who won’t give up. He puts constant pressure on you and you either try to match him or get eliminated.

It will be captivating to see what strategy Usyk uses to neutralize Wardley’s attack, as he won’t be able to do so while meeting fire with fire. It doesn’t have that power. Moreover, Wardley has too good hand speed and is great at combination shots.

Last update: 25/10/2025

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Boxing

The Shakur Stevenson vs. Devin Haney fight is in the works, but there is one major issue standing in the way

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1 hour ago

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April 28, 2026

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Shakur Stevenson vs Devin Haney is ‘in talks’ but one major issue stands in the way

Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney are reportedly in talks for an all-American superfight.

Stevenson scored the biggest victory of his career this year, moving up to super lightweight to defeat Teofimo Lopez to become a four-division world champion.

Haney won titles in three weight classes and was undisputed at lightweight. Most recently he defeated Brian Norman Jr. for the WBO welterweight world title.

Both men have impressed in their recent wins and are widely considered two of the most technically elite fighters in the sport today. A fight between the two has been discussed for a long time, and The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that it could now become a reality if one key hurdle can be overcome – an agreed weight limit.

This problem is not effortless to solve and may prove too stern for negotiations to overcome. Haney said he felt best at welterweight and looked exhausted at super lightweight. Stevenson argues that his opponent faced Jose Ramirez at the 144-pound catchweight last year and could do the same again. While Haney handled the weight well and performed well on the night, there is no doubt he would have been at a disadvantage.

Stevenson, however, argued that he is still a natural lightweight – even though he looks comfortable against Lopez at 140 pounds – and that a meeting under the welterweight limit creates a more even playing field.

Time will tell whether this can be agreed behind the scenes. A significant amount could assist move things forward, but given their undefeated records, pound-for-pound status and position as the face of American boxing, both Stevenson and Haney will be cautious in making decisions.

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Boxing

David Benavidez says his speed will be too much for Ramirez

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3 hours ago

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April 27, 2026

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Image: David Benavidez Says His Speed Will Be Too Much For Ramirez

David Benavidez doesn’t think size alone will decide his fight against Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez. Ahead of the cruiserweight title clash, Benavidez says the advantage will come down to speed, combinations and a style that he feels Ramirez hasn’t faced before.

Benavidez said Ramirez is a bigger man and is used to facing naturally bigger opponents in the cruiserweight division, but he doesn’t see it as a problem. He believes the slower pace typical of this weight will work to his advantage once the punches start falling.


Benavidez said Ramirez has never faced someone like him in an official fight. Although both have sparred in the past, Benavidez has made it clear that he sees a major difference between rounds in the gym and fighting him under the lights for twelve rounds.

“There are a lot of opportunities to hit him with a lot of combinations because he is slower,” Benavidez told Double3 Coverage. “My speed, my movement and my defense will be too much for him and I will surely overwhelm and drown him with pressure and volume.”

It’s compelling that he so casually disregards the size difference. While Zurdo Ramirez is a natural cruiserweight and holds the unified WBA/WBO titles, Benavidez is betting that speed and volume will be the universal equalizer.

Benavidez sounds like a man who thinks he’s found a flaw in the system. Moving up to cruiserweight, he believes his hand speed will be a blur compared to fighters in the 200-pound division. But here comes the fear of a massacre.

He already says this is “his era.” When a fighter begins to look beyond a unified champion like Ramirez toward a September coronation or a legacy-defining run, he usually leaves his chin exposed.

On the other hand, bookmakers do not predict a massacre, at least not in the case of Benavidez. There’s a reason he’s a -600 favorite. Most analysts believe he is just unique enough that his volume will break Zurdo’s rhythm before the size difference becomes a factor.

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Categories David Benavidez, Gilberto Ramirez, Quick Strikes

Last updated: 27/04/2026 at 22:41

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Shakur Stevenson responds to reports that he is in talks to face Devin Haney next

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5 hours ago

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April 27, 2026

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Shakur Stevenson responds to report that he is in talks to face Devin Haney next

Shakur Stevenson has hit the brakes following reports that he is in preliminary talks to fight Devin Haney.

Both elite Americans have claims to pound-for-pound status, both boast undefeated records and are considered among the most defensively gifted operators of the contemporary era.

However, a weight class or two has always separated them, and Haney’s recent move to welterweight – a division Stevenson says he can get to but is in no rush – seemed to make that fight less likely.

To make that happen, Stevenson said he would like Haney to agree to a catchweight of 144 pounds, the same limit he reached when defeating Jose Ramirez in 2025.

Today, The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that discussions had already begun, but the weight was a sticking point, with Stevenson likely still insisting on the stipulation, but Haney was keen on staying at 147 pounds.

However, Stevenson has now responded to Coppinger’s claim by speaking further X that there was no contact between the teams.

“I know the fans like to get excited and can toy with you all and easily manipulate you, but this rumor is dead for the second time. I haven’t heard a word about it, [I don’t know] what are they? [trying to] hide or hide, but me and my team haven’t heard any nonsense.”

It’s unclear where Haney and Stevenson will go next Haney is reportedly considering a move to Zuffa Boxing and Stevenson are still deciding which division to compete in.

For now, it seems any excitement about their meeting on the ropes is premature.

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