Fabio Wardley says that “no pressure” him with the bookmakers, which made him an underdog in Saturday’s fight against Joseph Parker at the O2 Arena in London.
Eight-year professional Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KO) is already used to being the favorite in his fights. Entering the pitch as an underdog is a recent experience for him.
Parker The Favorite
WBO interim heavyweight champion Parker (36-3, 24 KO) is viewed as a fighter with more technical ability, and his last three fights have looked noticeably better. He started his career as a raw puncher in 2012, but has learned a lot since teaming up with Andy Lee in March 2021.
“Everyone sees me as the underdog, which is quite refreshing for me. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on that end of the stick. The pressure has let me off,” said Fabio Wardley talkSport Boxing about being the underdog in Saturday’s fight against Joseph Parker.
Parker is a -350 favorite to beat Wardley. Odds bettors rely on former WBO heavyweight champion Parker’s experience fighting top-level opponents such as Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. Parker, 33, has been a professional for 13 years. This makes it a known commodity for bettors.
Wardley’s power, hand speed, intelligence and youth give him a real chance in this fight. If he can get Parker to trade, it will benefit him due to his speed and strength. Fabio will still need a good chin though, as Parker can punch.
Exploiting vulnerabilities
“I know where Joe has his delicate spots and I’m going to exploit them on Saturday night. That’s a very obvious carrot hanging in front of me and Joe. It’s a fight. It’s the biggest fight in boxing,” Wardley said of the fight against undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk if he wins against Parker.
Winner of Parker vs. Wardley stands to make a lot of money when one of them challenges Usyk for his four belts in 2026. Daniel Dubois earned an estimate $71.2 million fighting Usyk in a rematch on July 19, 2025. Imagine what Wardley could do in a fight against Usyk. That would be huge compared to what he did in his fights.
“It’s distracting, but also extremely motivating. I’ll give everything I have in me because I’m one step away from fighting for the world title,” said Wardley.
Fabio Wardley – Final shot: This time the bookmakers have let us down
It will be doubly hard for Parker to fight someone who has Wardley’s hunger and ambition. Parker’s last three opponents fought like they didn’t have the same hunger to win that Fabio now has.
It will be hard for Joseph to adapt to this, because on Saturday he will face someone who has a powerful will to win. Parker may fold, as he did on September 24, 2022, when he lost by knockout to Joe Joyce in the 11th round.
Roy Jones Jr has announced his price and is demanding an eight-figure purse if he is to make it through the ropes.
At his peak, the American became one of the best players to ever grace the sport, and his breathtaking speed and overall physical prowess made him seem almost unbeatable.
After winning world titles at middleweight, super middleweight and airy heavyweight, Jones even moved up to heavyweight and dethroned John Ruiz to win the WBA belt in 2003.
The pound-for-pound legend retired in 2018, when many thought his best days were behind him, only to take it to the next level exhibition match with Mike Tyson in 2020
Although it was a non-contest, many believed that Tyson outplayed Jones, who then returned professionally against Anthony Pettis and lost an eight-round decision to the former UFC champion in 2023.
Since then, the 57-year-old has remained on the safer side of the competition, but is now eyeing another comeback, this time against Misfits boxer Tommy Fury.
Having delved into the power side of the sport following previous professional victories over Jake Paul and KSI, Fury is now preparing to face former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall.
I’m talking to Betting showroomJones said he would only be willing to challenge the 27-year-old if he was handsomely rewarded for his troubles.
“Is me vs. Tommy Fury dead? Nothing is dead forever. Roy Jones is still alive. Tommy Fury is still alive. Who knows? For the right money, it would make me go to the gym to get ready.”
“If they give me $10 million of course. Ten and more, yes. If they don’t give me $10 million and more, then no, I’m not wasting my time.”
Fury’s six-round exhibition match with Hall will take place later today at the Manchester Arena, although the result will not affect his professional record of 11-0 (4 KO).
“There are a confined number of fights and he can’t fight every fighter. So why don’t you consider that [Iglesias and Sheeraz] think about who wants to be at the front of the line,” Kellerman said on InsideRingShow.
Kellerman rejected the idea that Canelo was firing any of the fighters.
“He’s not saying he’s ignoring Sheeraz and Iglesias. In fact, he just gave them a path. He said, ‘I’m fighting Mbilli.’ You are fighting each other. This is not a duck. This is about business,” Kellerman said.
Sheeraz has already made it clear that he has no interest in following the route proposed by Canelo. Responding to a suggestion from an earlier interview, the British fighter said he respected Alvarez but would not allow another boxer to dictate his career decisions.
A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could answer many of the remaining questions about both men.
Canelo is preparing to fight Mbilli, a fighter widely viewed as one of the most threatening fighters in the division due to his constant pressure and furious attacks. Meanwhile, Sheeraz has had two fights since moving up to 168 pounds, a fight against Edgar Berlanga, who he stopped in July 2025 after Canelo had already beaten him a year earlier, and 39-year-old Al Begic for the vacant WBO title.
A fight between Sheeraz and Iglesias could eliminate many of the questions that still haunt both men. Sheeraz would have the opportunity to silence critics who believe his super middleweight resume is slim, while Iglesias could reaffirm a growing reputation that has led some fans to consider him the division’s boogeyman.
The winner would pose a bigger and more marketable challenge. Instead of facing Sheeraz immediately after his victory over Begic, Alvarez could face an opponent who had a decisive victory over another world champion, adding more significance to what could be one of the final marquee fights of his career.
Max Kellerman reacts to Canelo Álvarez’s comments about Hamzah Sheeraz and Osleys Iglesias 👀#InsideTheRing | The latest episode LIVE NOW on YouTube The Ring 📺 pic.twitter.com/tfOhDtjgit
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Errol Spence Jr gained additional motivation to defeat Tim Tszyu, knowing that the winner of the upcoming fight could face a potentially more lucrative opportunity.
The two former world champions will face each other on July 25 in Australia, with Tszyu having the home advantage and looking to rejoin the world stage.
To do this, the 31-year-old must defeat a credible opponent and prove that despite losing three of his last six fights, he remains one of the top super welterweight fighters in the world.
Ideally, he would have fought Spence at 154 pounds, but given his opponent’s three-year layoff, Tszyu ultimately agreed to fight at the catchweight of 158 pounds.
Before the long break, Spence lost the WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight titles to Terence Crawford, who defeated his rival with a surprisingly one-sided ninth-round stoppage.
However, even before his loss to “Bud,” many believed that “The Truth” would be better suited to the 154-pound division, where he plans to make his mark after his triumph over Tszyu.
If such a plan comes to fruition, Spence could enter into a national feud with Jermell Charlo, who has not fought since unanimous decision loss to Canelo Alvarez in September 2023
According to Mike Coppinger of Ring MagazineCharlo could very well face Tszyu if the Australian wins the fight against Spence.
“I was told he would be lined up to win [Spence-Tszyu]. Of course, nothing has been done yet. I’m told that behind the scenes, Charlo is being lined up for this fight, which will take place at 154 pounds.[lbs]”
Before the 168-pound fight with Canelo, Charlo became the undisputed super welterweight champion by dethroning Brian Castano by a 10th-round stoppage in 2022, less than a year after his controversial boxing draw.
The 36-year-old achieved this ambition by training under Derrick James, who is also Spence’s former head coach.
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