Contentious Stoppage in Parker vs. Wardley Fight
The boxing community is abuzz following referee Howard Foster’s contentious stoppage of Joseph Parker’s fight against Fabio Wardley during the 11th round in London on Saturday night. The decision has split opinions: while some fans argue that Parker was not adequately defending against Wardley’s relentless onslaught, others view the intervention as hasty and perhaps biased in favor of the home fighter, Wardley.
Parker’s Reaction
Following the fight, Parker expressed his discontent during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show by stating,
“You know, I am upset. I felt like the fight was competitive and I was ahead on the scorecards.”
He acknowledged Wardley’s last-minute flurry had connected with him but insisted,
“I was aware of what was happening and was still in the fight when the ref stepped in. That’s not my call to make, though.”
Despite losing the WBO interim heavyweight title and the opportunity to challenge for the undisputed championship held by Oleksandr Usyk, Parker is maintaining a positive outlook.
“I can complain all I want, but it won’t change the reality. I have to accept what happened and move on,”
he noted.
The Importance of Resilience
Boxing often presents unpredictable scenarios, and Parker emphasized the importance of resilience.
“It’s crucial to have supportive people around you. I prepared thoroughly for this fight, and I had faith that whatever happened was meant to be. I want to focus on what comes next rather than dwell on the past,”
he pointed out.
The refereeing of Howard Foster has previously been scrutinized, notably during the first Carl Froch-George Groves contest in 2013, which ended in backlash strong enough to warrant a rematch. Parker reflected on Foster’s history, noting,
“I wasn’t aware of his past, but I felt the stoppage was uncalled for. I was still dodging punches and wanted to carry on; however, the decision was out of my hands. I have to respect it, even if it hurts.”
Fight Statistics and Future Aspirations
As for the fight’s official scorecards when the fight was halted, Parker was leading with one judge scoring it at 98-92 and another at 96-94, while a third had it even. This outcome marks the second consecutive match in which Wardley achieved a comeback victory, having previously stopped Justis Huni in the 10th round after being outboxed for most of that fight as well. If Parker had managed to withstand Wardley’s attacks in the 11th, he could potentially have avoided defeat.
Looking ahead, Parker eagerly anticipates a rematch with Wardley, stating,
“I would jump at the chance to fight him again; I’m ready whenever. If Usyk isn’t available, I’m here for that rematch!”
However, the likelihood remains high that Wardley will pursue a bout against Usyk for all four heavyweight titles next year in London.
Career Reflections and Future Plans
Considering his career nearing its twilight, Parker acknowledges he must regroup if he hopes to compete for another heavyweight title. Prior to his recent setbacks, he had enjoyed double six-fight win streaks and may need to gear up for another vigorous quest to claim a mandatory position within a competitive heavyweight landscape.
“I’m not one to wait around. I want to spring back into action. I believe I can perform better than I did last time, but now it’s about showing it in the ring, not just discussing it,”
he said. Targets like Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, Agit Kabayel, and Filip Hrgovic have taken shape as potential future opponents.
Business Considerations
Looking to the business side of his career, Parker finds himself in a unique position as he could either continue with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions or consider independent promotions. Commenting on the situation, Parker acknowledged,
“Queensberry might be content with Wardley’s victory. He is their local fighter, after all, but that’s just the nature of the sport.”
With several prominent heavyweights currently affiliating with Queensberry, Parker’s path, regardless of promotion ties, will likely intertwine with its fighters. Notably, three of the heavyweights he has mentioned as potential challengers are managed by Warren, while Joshua continues his long-running relationship with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom boxing.
